Minister warns farmers selling FISP inputs

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 11:29:24 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

FARMERS selling subsidised fertilizer and seed provided by Government under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) risk being blacklisted and will face the wrath of the law, Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu has warned.

Mr. Zulu revealed that his office had continued to receive reports of farmers selling inputs.

He said inputs meant for the province should be used within the province and for the intended purpose.

The minister has urged the security wings to be on high alert and ensure that the practice of selling inputs was contained.

“My office has continued to receive reports of farmers selling inputs, but that should not be the case. Farmers should use the inputs for their intended purpose and not sell them; this is not right and it has to be stopped.

“So this is now a task for the security wings in the province to ensure that no farmer resells the Government-subsidized inputs. No bag of input, be it fertilizer or seed, should be sold,” Mr. Zulu said.

Meanwhile, farmers in Lundazi district have commended Government for distributing fertilizer under FISP on time.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Mr Keepson Lungu told the Daily Nation that the early distribution of the inputs should not only be for the 2016-17 farming season but should be made a custom in years to come.

Mr Lungu added that early delivery of fertilizer gave farmers enough time to prepare for the farming season.

“As farmers in Lundazi district, we are happy that Government has delivered fertilizer on time and we commend them for that because this means that we will have enough time to prepare for farming.

‘‘Our prayer is that this does not just end this farming season, but should continue even in the years to come because that is what the farmers want,” he said.