Chadiza farmers ignorant on fertilizer, maize exchange policy

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–Most farmers in Chadiza District have expressed ignorance on the new government policy of acquiring fertilizer in exchange of maize.


The farmers said in separate interviews that they were not aware of what government meant when it announced that farmers would start acquiring fertilizer in exchange with bags of maize.


Some farmers complained that government was now forcing them to exchange the little maize that they had harvested with fertilizer.


Yesterday, ZANIS received complaints from some farmers in Nsadzu area who had also done their own arithmetic and discovered that for them to acquire the usual average four bags of fertilizer they would need to prepare eight bags of maize at a cost of K520.


Speaking on behalf of other farmers, Sylvester Banda blamed the National Farmers Union for not taking an active role in protecting their interests.


Mr Banda said the farmers in his area were suspicious about government’s intentions and had already expressed unhappiness as they were worried that the little maize they harvested from would be taken away from them.


But Chadiza District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO), Mwaba Lubasi, said the newly introduced policy, where farmers had to choose between acquiring fertilizers through cash purchase or exchanging with bags of maize, would not be by force but that it would be optional depending on the liking of the farmer.


Addressing the concerns of the farmers who had misunderstood the new government policy of acquiring a bag of fertilizer in exchange with two bags of maize, Mr Lubasi said his office had very little to change the situation as it was government policy.


“I see no reason for farmers to complain because they will have to choose whether to sell their two bags of maize at K65 each to realize K130 and later buy a bag of fertilizer at K100 cash or look for K100 cash and buy a bag of fertilizer,” he said.

He advised the farmers to ensure that before they made their choice, it would be ideal for them to carry out calculations on the costs involved in transporting either maize to the market or transporting fertilizer to their villages.


And Chilenga Ward Councilor, Martin Zulu, supported the move by government to offer farmers such options as at times the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) delayed to make payments for the maize.


Mr Zulu observed that in the event that FRA delayed to make payments, the exchange of maize with fertilizer would become a better option for the farmers.


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