Mon, 12 Dec 2016 12:13:57 +0000
By BENNIE MUNDANDO
FARMERS in Chipata will start receiving inputs through the E-voucher system under the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP) this week, says Chipata district commissioner Kalunga Zulu.
Mr. Zulu told the Daily Nation in an interview yesterday that all modalities were in place and that what remained was for the farmers to start depositing their balances in the subsidised account starting tomorrow after which they will start receiving their inputs.
He said the district did not expect any problems with the visa card system which had proved a success in all districts in Zambia.
He explained that once the deposits were made, vouchers will be activated to allow farmers to get what they wanted from the selected agro-dealers.
He expected the agro dealers to be efficient in providing farmers what they needed so that no time was lost in the distribution of inputs.
“We want to beat time and we are starting with the first two blocks where farmers are supposed to deposit the difference into the Government subsidised account at BankABC starting on Monday (today) after which the bank will issue an instruction to have all the E-vouchers activated so that our people can start drawing inputs of their choice from the selected agro dealers starting on Tuesday (tomorrow).
And Mr. Zulu has appealed to the farmers to liaise with his office and the office of the district agriculture coordinator (DACO) if they had any problems in acquiring the inputs.
“We also expect agro dealers to be efficient by ensuring that farmers are given the inputs in time. The wide range of commodities affords farmers a wide range from which to choose what they want to grow,” he said.
