Zambia has paid the last installment of K139,982,970 (US$9 million) of all the commitments owed to the smallholder farmers that supplied maize and other crops to the revenue agency during the last season as part of its food security, a spokesperson says.
John Chipandwe, the agency spokesperson says in a statement availed to FRA that a total 298,087.40MTs of Grade A white maize corn valued at 1,073,114,640.00 (US$61 million was paid.
A further 103,871.75MTs of soya beans was purchased at K1,142,589,250.00 (US$71,000) with 448.84 MTs of paddy rice, secured at US$140,000.
The total expenditure all to the small holder farmers amounted to K2,217, 948,090.00 (US$14 million as at 25 November this. The Agency expects all paying institutions countrywide to expedite payments to the remaining farmers.
“The total amount paid out to all farmers for the delivered crops as at 25th November 2022 is two billion, two hundred and seventeen million, nine hundred and forty-eight thousand, ninety Kwacha (K2,217, 948,090.00).” the statement adds.
And President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated the Government’s resolve to put agriculture as Zambia’s development priority and make the country the continent’s reliable basket with an assurance that the delayed input distribution to deserving farmers was being redressed.
Noting that the distribution of input had been marred by malpractices and other administrative concerns, the President assured farmers and traditional leaders as well as other players that contrary to concerns of possible food shortages, the Government was resolved to ensure all shortcomings were resolved immediately.
In recent months, several players have lamented the delayed distribution of the various inputs with some arguing that their effort to grow maize and other crops that deserve fertilizer and the lack of seed would affect output.
However, President Hichilema remains optimistic of efficient delivery of the inputs allaying fears that the delays could cost Zambia over 1 million tons less last season’s output.
The Government has since moved in swiftly and issued a waiver for trucks, carrying fertiliser and other farming inputs, to move at night, to reach all interest groups and catch up with the delayed distribution exercise, chiefly the far-flung parts of the countryside who might not be reached at the height of the rain season.
Speaking in Chipata recently the President assured the traditional leader that anomalies in the distribution of fertiliser are being addressed as a matter of urgency.
Paramount Chief Mpezeni lamented the delays in meeting the farmers input expectations as the rain season lingers with a call to the Government to expedite.
However, the President assured farmers that with the new Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme (CASP), all such delays would be reduced, disclosing that fertiliser and other inputs including seed were being redressed, while warning the farmers against doomsayers.
“I am your servant. I am your president and an elder in the church and I don’t tell lies. The fertilizer is already on the way and I am confirming to you as your servant,”.
Meanwhile agriculture minister Reuben Mtolo has directed all provincial and district agriculture officers countrywide to ensure all inputs still marooned at various depots and other distribution points were released and given to deserving end users.
