Thirty-four percent of beneficiaries under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in Vubwi District, have so far redeemed their farming inputs, while 54 percent are expected to redeem after having made the required payment.

Vubwi district has 8, 000 FISP beneficiaries, and a total of 2, 720 have so far managed to redeem their inputs.

District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO), Philimon Lungu has disclosed that government is optimistic that all beneficiaries will have accessed their inputs by November if the prevailing conditions remain unchanged.

Mr Lungu has urged beneficiaries who have received redemption codes to promptly access their inputs to allow them adequate time to prepare for the farming season.

“I must also bring it to your attention that 54 percent of beneficiaries under this programme have already made their deposits out of which 20 percent are yet to access inputs,” he said.

Mr Lungu, who is also Acting District Commissioner (DC), has further encouraged farmers to consider early-maturing and climate-resilient crop varieties as the country and the district anticipate experiencing El Niño conditions.

“We are also advising our farmers to access early-maturing and climate-change-resilient crops as the country and the district anticipate experiencing El Niño conditions. By so doing, they will be guaranteed reduced crop failure,” Mr Lungu said.

He has also confirmed that the district has recorded no irregularities under either FISP or the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) crop marketing programme, particularly involving the distribution of fake or counterfeit seed and fertiliser.

“I should also put it on record that the district has recorded zero irregularities, particularly with regard to fake and counterfeit seeds and fertiliser being supplied to our farmers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Lungu said FRA has so far purchased 240,487 bags of 50-kilogramme white maize, equivalent to approximately 12,024 metric tonnes, under the ongoing 2027 crop marketing season in Vubwi District.

He further said 35,000 bags belonging to farmers are currently at FRA depots awaiting procurement.

He said the district is facing limited storage capacity but assures farmers that government, through the FRA, has safely secured the maize and that no grain will be damaged.

“Despite the limited storage space in the district, government through FRA has safely secured the maize, and I wish to assure the public that no maize will be damaged,” he said.

Mr Lungu said payments to farmers who have sold their maize to the FRA are ongoing and progressing well.

He assured farmers who are yet to receive their payments that they will be paid as the process continues.

On concerns over the shortage of empty grain bags, which are used by the FRA during maize purchases, Mr Lungu said government has provided an additional allocation.

He said the bags will be distributed to all 15 FRA depots in the district this week.

Meanwhile, FISP beneficiary Elizabeth Phiri, who has accessed her inputs, has thanked government for the support and pledged to use the inputs for their intended purpose.

“I know that this support, if properly utilised, will help me and other beneficiaries to eliminate poverty through the enhancement of food security at household level,” Ms. Phiri said.

And farmers, John Sakala and Olipa Banda, who have supplied maize to the FRA but are yet to receive payment, have called on government to expedite the payment process.

The farmers say delays in payment could negatively affect their preparations for the forthcoming farming season, particularly amid the anticipated El Niño conditions.

Responding to the concerns, Mr Lungu assured farmers that government is doing everything possible to ensure that all farmers are paid on time.

He reiterated that the payment process is ongoing and urged farmers to remain patient as the outstanding payments are being processed.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Hot this week

IOM, Bayer Zambia donate 30 metric tonnes of maize seed September 29, 2026 0 The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in partnership with... General News

North-western to get 19 early childhood education centres September 29, 2026 0 North-Western Province Permanent Secretary, Grandson Katambi has called on... Economy

BII commits $65 million in Zambia and Zimbabwe September 29, 2026 0 As part of the local launch of its... Columns

Zambia’s Political Future September 29, 2026 0 By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D Emeritus Professor of Sociology Introduction Since... Sports

RUGBY: ZRU drops Ref Mulenga’s case September 28, 2026 0 The Zambia Rugby Union has closed disciplinary proceedings against...

Topics

IOM, Bayer Zambia donate 30 metric tonnes of maize seed 0 The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in partnership with... General News

North-western to get 19 early childhood education centres 0 North-Western Province Permanent Secretary, Grandson Katambi has called on... Economy

BII commits $65 million in Zambia and Zimbabwe 0 As part of the local launch of its... Columns

Zambia’s Political Future 0 By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D Emeritus Professor of Sociology Introduction Since... Sports

RUGBY: ZRU drops Ref Mulenga’s case 0 The Zambia Rugby Union has closed disciplinary proceedings against... General News

Stakeholders call for sustained investment in key sectors 0 Stakeholders have called for sustained policy direction and investment... Sports

Zesco Utd Chair demands CAF qualification 0 Zesco United Board Chairperson Patricia Musiya has challenged players... General News

Thole trial set for October 1 0 The Kabwe Magistrates’ Court has set October 1, 2026...

Related Articles

IOM, Bayer Zambia donate 30 metric tonnes of maize seed

North-western to get 19 early childhood education centres General News September 29, 2026

Stakeholders call for sustained investment in key sectors

Thole trial set for October 1

World Bank supports Capital Projects in Central

Popular Categories