Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD), has called for early distribution of farming inputs for the 2023/24 farming season.
ANDD Executive Director, Samuel Banda notes that the last farming season was a disaster and was not managed well, hence the need to ensure that things are done properly now to promote national and domestic food security.
Mr Banda also says Zambia has the potential to feed itself and also export maize to neighbouring countries if the agriculture sector is well managed to earn Forex, which in turn can help to stabilise the local currency.
He says the current high cost of living, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities requires a vibrant agriculture sector, which is not only effective but sustainable.
And Mr Banda has urged the government to increase the number of fertiliser bags for both D Compound and Urea, to 10 under the Farmer Input Support Programme to increase agricultural production and also empower farmers.
He notes that the current number of bags each farmer used to get cannot support food security and poverty eradication in the country.
“Farmers need to be empowered not only by giving them inputs, but giving them enough inputs on time, for them to be motivated to produce more for both domestic consumption and for purposes of exports” Mr Banda says.
He has also urged the government to deal with smuggling of both maize and mealie meal to protect the country’s food security, which has been threatened by porous borders.
