THE importance of national food security cannot be over emphasized. No country can survive by continuously importing food to feed its people. It is therefore imperative that policy measures are implemented to ensure food security.
Vacillations in the implementation of agricultural policy is doing a disservice to the nation, Government policy on procurement and distribution of farming inputs is not a new thing. This is something that has been in existence for years, and it is therefore baffling that technocrats responsible for implantation should need reminders on how to do their jobs.
The nation was assured by the Agriculture minister some two weeks ago when he flagged of the distribution of farming inputs that every corner of the country would soon receive the commodity. Alas, we are now hearing complaints from some parts of the country that they are yet to see any fertilizer in their areas. So where is the fertiliser that the minister flagged off two weeks ago. Is it still sitting in depots somewhere? In Eastern province, farmers are complaining that the fertilizer has not yet reached their area. The worry by farmers can be appreciated seeing that the rain season is probably a few weeks away.
Most farmers have started preparing their farmers in readiness for planting with the first rains. We also know from weather forecasts, that the rain season might hit earlier that anticipated, making it imperative that farming inputs must be in place.
Chinsali Member of Parliament, Kalalwe Mukosa, is right to note that the late distribution of fertiliser by the government through the ministry of Agriculture will have negative effects on agriculture production. Mr Mukosa who was speaking during the Vice President’s question time, said farmers in most areas of the country including those in Chinsali were concerned about the late distribution of farming inputs by government.
Like most worried farmers, Mr Mukosa wondered why government was taking so long to ensure that farmers received the inputs when the rain season was around the corner. “This late distribution of farming inputs by government in most parts of the country is going to have negative effects on farming production of the country which might result in hunger,” Mr Mukosa said. He requested the Vice President Madam Mutale Nalumango to give an update to the farmers with regards to how far the government had gone with the process of the distribution of farming inputs around the country. And in responding to the question Ms Nalumango said government would ensure that fertilizer is delivered to farmers in the remaining few weeks.
Perhaps this issue also needs the intervention of President Hakainde Hichilema for things to move. The procurement process was marred with controversy, further delaying the whole distribution exercise. But now that it was distribution was flagged off, there is no reason for further delay. The minister of Agriculture, Mr Mtolo Phiri, should apply himself to this exercise and ensure fertilizer is really being moved and not just empty assurances. The nation will blame him if hunger strikes because the ministry failed to manage this properly.
