Mwinilunga farmers demand urea fertilizer

Mwinilunga farmers demand urea fertilizer

Mwinilunga, March 3, ZANIS——Over 200 small scale farmers in Mwinilunga district of Northwestern province are demanding top dressing fertilizer from government which they have not yet received under the Farmer Input Support Program for the 2014-2015 farming season.

Speaking on behalf of irate farmers who stormed ZANIS offices in Mwinilunga this morning, Solo Samuneti expressed fear that their maize, which he said has already started tussling, will go to waste following the delayed supply of the commodity.

 Mr Samuneti described the situation as desperate, saying it will negatively affect their crop yield and food security at household
level.

He appealed to government through the Ministry of Agriculture to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves.

When contacted for a comment District Agricultural Coordinating Officer, Bwalya Ponga, confirmed that the district had not yet received 4,295 x 50 kg bags of urea fertilizer out of the total consignment of 20,150 x50 kg bags, saying his office is still waiting for the response from higher authority.

And District Commissioner, Irene Mate, has advised the farmers, who have since threatened to demonstrate, to remain calm and exercise maximum patience as government is looking into their plight.

Meanwhile, Mrs Mate is appealing to people of Muzhila area in Kanyama Chiefdom where seven hippos are reported to be terrorizing them and destroying crops to remain calm as government is doing everything possible to control the beasts.

Mrs Mate noted that the hippos have destroyed several hectares of maize belonging to some small scale farmers who cultivate their crops along the Muzhila River.

She has since advised people in the area not to move in isolation at night to avoid loss of life.