WE are not surprised that Members of Parliament straddling the political divide want President Hakainde Hichilema to address the nation over the messy distribution of farming inputs – fertiliser in particular.
They also want the President to explain the sudden removal from Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) of farmers who were beneficiaries of the programme.
The concerns raised by MPs are genuine.
The distribution of fertiliser remains in shambles with no region receiving the commodity.
Mpezeni, the Paramount Chief of the Ngoni last week reported that the Eastern Province has not received any fertiliser, and that farmers were worried over the delays.
And former Agriculture Minister David Mubumba, who is Mwense Member of Parliament also sent an “SoS” to Government to ensure that fertiliser is distributed as Luapula Province has not yet received any through the Farmer Input Support Programme.
In Parliament yesterday, several MPs from both ruling and opposition expressed worry and reservation over the manner Government is handling the 2022/2023 farming season through FISP.
Lubansenshi Patriotic Front MP Taulo Kabwe Chewe appealed to President Hichilema to address the crisis that has been caused by the delay in the delivery and distribution of fertiliser and looming hunger situation as a result of the change of policy to immediately wean off farmers from FISP.
Mr Chewe said it was important for the Head of State to consider addressing the nation on the status of the delivery and distribution of fertiliser and how best Zambians who had been removed from FISP could be managed because they had not prepared for the graduation.
UPND Bweengwa MP Michelo Kasautu also rose on a point of public importance and wondered why FISP benefitting farmers in Monze were being asked to deposit their contribution individually and not as cooperatives.
That MPs want the President to address the fertiliser issue is a serious indictment on the Ministry of Agriculture that it has failed to run the ministry to the satisfactory of the nation.
They feel that President Hichilema’s intervention might help bring direction in the operations of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The general consensus in the National Assembly, as other stakeholders have pointed out, is that there could be looming hunger in the country if farmers fail to grow maize, the country’s staple food.
The late delivery of fertiliser is compounded by the abrupt removal of some peasant farmers from FISP and have been left in a quandary.
As some MPs pointed out, these farmers needed to be weaned gradually and not in the haphazard manner it has been done.
There is clearly confusion in the agricultural sector which has also been highlighted by the letter that the Ministry of Agriculture – in panic – has written to Agrizam Investment Limited to explain why it was failing to meet its side of the bargain to supply fertiliser.
In the letter to the managing director of Agrizam, Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Green Mbozi has complained over the slow pace at which the company was delivering and distributing fertiliser in Eastern Province.
But while these agricultural gymnastics are being played out, farmers need to be assured that their concerns are being attended.
And in this vein, the MPs are in order to ask President Hichilema to take charge and stave off the looming disaster.
