By SIMON MUNTEMBA
It is disappointing that more than halfway into the rain season, there are still reports of farmers, especially small-scale ones in villages, who are yet to receive fertiliser, the New Heritage Party has said.
The party’s vice president, Mr Samuel Kasankha said it was sad that after government had assured the nation and farmers in particular that fertiliser requirements for this season had been taken care of, some areas were still waiting for the input.
He said government officials must limit their talking and listing achievements because in actual fact, some of the so-called successes have not yet been achieved.
“We, in the New Heritage Party are disappointed that more than halfway into the rain season, there are still reports of farmers, especially small-scale ones in villages, who are yet to receive fertiliser.
“After headline pronouncements by government to the effect that all fertiliser requirements for this season have been taken care of, some areas are still waiting,” Mr Kasankha said.
For instance, he said, the people of Chiparamba in Kasenengwa have sent an SOS through us that some among them have received D Compound and an incomplete complement of Urea while some are yet to receive anything at all.
He said the erratic and untimely distribution of fertiliser to the farmers would result in the country experiencing famine.
“The worry is genuine and must concern us all but more so, the government. Most of these people depend entirely on these agricultural activities for their food security as well as sustaining themselves with respect to other areas of life like buying groceries and school requirements for children. To deny them fertliser is to exacerbate hunger and poverty,” he said.
Mr Kasankha said much as it was already late for fertiliser distribution, government must ensure that the inputs were delivered in the few remaining days because, “it’s better late than never.”
He said the Ministry of Agriculture must immediately take the fertiliser to Chiparamba and any other areas where people still have not received it and avert a crisis for which they will be held responsible.
Author
