By NATION REPORTER
FARMERS in Eastern Province, have started to receive their farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), with an appreciation of how smooth the process has been so far.
A check at several warehouses in Chipata found farmers redeeming their inputs through the Zambia Integrated Agriculture Information Management System (ZIAMIS) which is managed by Smart Zambia.
Katandala Cooperative vice chairperson Christopher Njovu is happy with the efficiency in redeeming farming inputs, and said everything starting with the weight of fertiliser bags are correct.
Another farmer, Ms Cecilia Lungu, who is chairperson of Carrot Cooperative is also happy that this year has not been congested with unnecessary delays in accessing inputs.
“We are happy that Neria’s has lived up to its target of making sure we receive these inputs way before the rains start,” Ms Juliet Hara, a farmer of Sianjalika Cooperative noted.
Meanwhile, Neria’s Chipata warehouse manager Gilbert Malumo has described the process of redeeming inputs by farmers as smooth and very overwhelming.
Mr Malumo, who demonstrated to journalists the whole technical process of redeeming of inputs during a tour of the warehouse to appreciate the process, disclosed that Nerias Investments is way ahead and stands at 100 percent ready to distribute to all the 17, 238 tonnes.
Mr Malumo said over 5, 000 bags of both Urea and Compound D are targeted to be redeemed on a daily basis to ease the distribution exercise.
District Marketing Development Officer Jack Mwanza in an interview expressed optimism that the province will meet the distribution target of 81, 454 of D Compound and 60, 214 of Urea before November 20. 2021 and before the onset of the rain season.
He was speaking when farmers from various cooperatives collected their bags of fertiliser after the redeeming the inputs.
Meanwhile, Camp Agriculture Committee chairperson Charles Banda commended Neria’s Investments for ensuring the inputs are delivered on time and further encouraged them to continue on the same trajectory.
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