Over 1, 300 Chirundu households to benefit from food security pack

CHIRUNDU District Community Development Officer Moffat Ng’uni says the government has made progress in the procuring of farming inputs in readiness for the implementation of the rain-fed cropping component of Food Security Pack (FSP) programme for the 2023/2024 farming season.

Mr. Ng’uni said the government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) says 1,365 households will benefit under the 2023/2024 farming season in the district.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Ng’uni explained that the Food Security Pack for the 2023/2024 farming season will comprise Compound D Fertiliser, Urea fertilizer and Cereal seed either Maize, Rice or sorghum.

He added that the farming inputs will also have legume seed among them Beans, Groundnuts or Soya beans respectively.

Mr. Ng’uni was speaking during community sensitization in Ng’ombe Ilede Ward, Nkandabbwe Ward, Sikoongo Ward and Lusitu Ward respectively on the new guidelines on the implementation of the programme for 2023/2024 farming season.

The Chirundu District Community Development Officer pointed out that there is a Agriculture Insurance Component laid out for 100,000 beneficiary households should they be affected by the effects of Climate Change in the districts.

Mr. Ng’uni added that this is applicable to districts where the early warning systems report has been compiled by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

He said his office will monitor and facilitate the identification, selection and training in the best agronomical practices for the households that will be supported under Rain – fed Cropping component during the 2023/2024 farming season.

Mr. Ng’uni said under the new guidelines for the programme, his office has been instructed to allocate a minimum of 100 food security packs per Community Welfare Assistance Committee (CWAC), in order to maximize on the impact of the programme to the household beneficiaries.

He said this is expected to translate into enhanced impact, ease programme implementation, monitoring and also to constitute a sufficient pool of paybacks in order to implement meaningful and sustainable community projects.

And speaking at the same meeting, Senior Headman Sikoongo implored Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs) to be impartial in the selection of household beneficiaries so that only eligible people are enlisted.

The traditional leader said time has come for Zambians to embrace a culture of doing things correctly without using underhand methods as was the norm previously. – ZANIS.

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