Kaputa among the best recipients of FISP across the country – Kazabu

Government has described as successful the distribution of farming inputs under the Fertilizer Input Support Programme (FISP) in Kaputa district.
Agriculture and Livestock Deputy Minister, Lackson Kazabu said Kaputa is among the few districts in the country which has received the inputs on time.
Mr Kazabu who admitted lapses in the distribution process attributed the problems to the transportation of Urea from Tanzania after it was procured from Saudi Arabia.
The Agriculture Deputy Minister said this when he addressed several farmers in Kaputa in the Kaputa District Council Chamber.
Earlier, Kaputa District Commissioner, Chrispine Kachusha informed the Deputy Minister that the district received its allocation of inputs on time and farmers have received their fertilizers while some are still in warehouses as other farmers could not pay for them.
Mr Kazabu has however assured the farmers in Kaputa and the country that government has learned from the mistakes and will rectify the problem saying it has since started the preparation of next farming season this early to ensure timely distribution.
He has also explained that government will increase the number of seeds given to farmers under the FISP programme by including sorghum and cotton in the package.
He said this is to allow farmers diversify and give them an opportunity to grow other crops apart from the traditional maize, rice and groundnuts.
He disclosed that government will construct storage sheds in all districts to allow them have stock of its product adding that it will also look at the possibility to open milling plants in districts to curb the increasing of mealie meal prices and its shortages.
The Deputy Minister who held an interactive question and answer session with farmers said government is in talks with Zambia Breweries who wants to start engaging farmers through an out grower scheme to grow cassava which the company wants to start buying for making beer.
He said once this initiative has been implemented will see a number of farmers benefit and have market for their cassava.
Meanwhile, Kaputa District Agricultural Chairperson, Simon Kapisha has commended government for showing commitment to the growth of the agricultural sector in the country.
Mr Kapisha thanked the Deputy Minister for engaging farmers in various issues concerning the sector.
He has also appeared to government to repair the roads in the area which he said are in deployable state.