Monday, 3 January 2011

CHOMA CIVIC LEADER EXPRESSES WORRY

A Civic leader in Choma has expressed worry over delays to distribute top dressing fertilizer in the area.

Sikalongo  ward  councilor  Phanwell  Siagwelele said the delay could adversely  affect  farmers’  efforts  to produce a  bumper  harvest  this  year.

Mr Siagwelele  said farmers  from  his ward  have  not  yet  accessed  top  dressing  fertilizer  under  the Farmer  Input  Support  Program (FISP).

He told  ZANIS  in an interview  in Choma  today  that the  maize which  was  planted  in November  is  likely  to be affected  because it  has  reached  the  top  dressing  fertilizer application level.

Mr  Siagwelele  added  that  farmers  were  desperate  for  the  fertilizer  because  they  have no extra  money  to  buy  the  commodity  at  exorbitant  prices on the  open market .

He said the price of fertilizer  at the  market  is  currently  ranging between  K180,000 and  K210,000 per  bag  respectively  adding  that  it is too  much  for  farmers  hence  the  need  for  the  ministry  of  Agriculture  to  come  to  the  aid  of  farmers.

“Farmers depend  much on  the fertilizer  government  is giving  them  under  the  FISP  so  in a situation  where  the  fertilizer  is delayed, it  is a disaster,” he  said.

The  civic leader  said  the FISP  programme  started  on a very  good  note  adding that there is need for quick intervention before  the  situation  gets  out  of  hand.

“Unless  urgent  measures  are taken to  correct  the  situation, the  farmer’s  crops will  be destroyed  due  to luck of  fertilizer.

ZANIS

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