…as they frantically engage ZARI to order a recall of all the fertiliser so far delivered across the country because of wrong granulation, specs composition of the fertiliser which does not conform to Zambian soils
By NATION REPORTER
THERE is an outrage among farmers across the country after revelations that tests done on samples of the fertiliser at delivery points in most parts of the country have failed with different granulation as well as Nitrogen Phosphorous Potassium (NPK).
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The farmers are now frantically calling ZARI for a recall of all the fertilisers that has so far been delivered in different parts of the country because it has failed the standard test.
According to sources, Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium which are three essential macronutrients required by plants for their growth and development had so far failed the test at delivery points.
Many farmers that have received inputs from some of the companies that were given tenders to supply fertilisers under FISP have complained about the quality of some of the commodities.
But the Ministry of Agriculture says it is not aware of such a development, except where private entities are supplying fake fertiliser on the market and trying to dupe people.
And a farmers’ organisation has said companies distributing fake fertilisers should not just be removed from the FISP program mebut be blacklisted, prosecuted and jailed for endangering the country’s food security.
Farmers who have reached out to the Daily Nation have complained about the granulation of the fertiliser, whose granules seem a lot different from the normal.
The farmers have also complained of the specification’s composition of the fertilizer that they have received, which they allege does not conform to Zambian soils.
The farmers have called on authorities to act quickly and conduct investigations and test the efficacy of the fertilisers being distributed, and if found wanting, recall the commodities from the market.
They are worried that if huge quantities find itself distributed to large numbers of unsuspecting farmers countrywide, this could lead to compromised food security at both farmstead and national levels.
But Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Green Mboozi in an interview said his Ministry is not aware of any fertiliser company contracted under FISP supplying non-conforming or poor grade fertilisers to farmers.
“However, we will conduct investigations and do some tests in areas already supplied. It is a mammoth task, but we have officers on the ground who are working directly with the farmers countrywide.”
“The information that we have is that some private business entities that are not on FISP, are the ones supplying fake fertilisers on the market, which is unfortunate. But for those on FISP, we have not received any negative reports,” Mr. Mboozi said.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Small-Scale Farmers ((NASFA) says the issue of poor quality or fake fertilisers being distributed to farmers is a source of grave concern to not only Zambia, but also the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
NASFA president Dr. Frank Kayula said: “There is actually a regional fertiliser programme for SADC currently going on, and this is one of the issues that has been highlighted.”
Dr. Kayula said there is need to mete out stiff penalties on those selling fake seed and fake fertilisers.
He said such entities are bent on reaping off farmers who depend on agriculture as their only source of livelihood, and most of whom earn income only once in a year. He said any disturbance on the production system makes such farmers lose a season.
Dr. Kayula said: “Companies distributing fake fertilisers should not just be removed from the program and be blacklisted, but they should also be arrested and jailed.”
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