Govt told to rectify e-voucher flaws

Tue, 13 Feb 2018 08:08:04 +0000

By PETER MALASHA

GOVERNMENT has been urged to revisit the e-voucher system in the next farming season to make the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) effective.

Kalwa ward councillor in Mkushi Gerald Manda told the Daily Nation in an interview that there was need for government through the relevant ministry to ensure that the system was perfected before the start of the 2018-2019 farming season for the betterment of agriculture development.

Mr. Manda has noted that the 2017-2018 FISP was marred with a lot of mistakes that led to many small-scale farmers being left out on the list of beneficiaries of subsidised inputs.

“Technocrats of the e-voucher system should go back to the drawing table and see to it that all mistakes and inconsistencies experienced during FISP distribution exercise are corrected. This will allow efficiency and effectiveness of the programme in the next farming season.” Mr. Manda observed. Mr. Manda added that the move would also facilitate early distribution of the most wanted subsidised inputs to enable farmers move with time unlike what transpired in the current season. He said in his ward, people depended on agriculture as the main stay of the economy meaning that if the agriculture sector did not do well, that meant poor food production and hunger at household level.

Meanwhile, small-scale farmers in Kaundula camp in Luano who deposited their money on January 2 2018 have received their pin codes.

Nkomashi ward councillor Goliath Kapemba confirmed this to the Daily Nation in an interview.

Mr Kapemba said the affected farmers should redeem their cards and collect their inputs.

He was however concerned over transportation of inputs to the area because Nkomashi River was flooded and there was no bridge.

“I am really worried about those farmers who are to transport inputs this late because we have no bridge at Nkomashi River as it was flooded, cutting off people from either sides.”