By STEVEN MVULA
GOVERNMENT has introduced an exchange system of fertiliser and maize with small-scale farmers, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Bob Sichinga announced yesterday.
Speaking at a press briefing at his office, Mr Sichinga said the programme will be run jointly with the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) unit under the Ministry of Agriculture.
The minister said the barter system will result in the procurement of 230,000 metric tonnes of maize and that storage facilities for both maize and fertiliser have been enhanced to avoid wastage.
Four 50-kilogramme bags of grade A maize will be swapped with two 50-kilogramme bags of D compound basal dressing fertiliser.
And four 50-kilogramme bags of grade A maize will be exchanged with two 50-kilogramme bags of urea top dressing fertiliser.
Mr Sichinga said the maize/fertiliser exchange programme will be undertaken by the Food Reserve Agency.
He said basal dressing fertiliser (D-Compound) is currently being produced at the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ), which has been rehabilitated at a cost of KR70.4 million.
NCZ is expected to produce 70,727 metric tonnes of D-Compound fertiliser.
Mr Sichinga said Government intends to procure 500,000 metric tonnes of maize to meet the national strategic stock.
He said about 270,000 metric tonnes will be purchased at an estimated cost of KR676 million. The funds will come from a consortium of commercial banks.
Mr Sichinga assured the nation that Government will not stop supporting small-scale farmers.
“The PF government has not stopped subsidising small-scale farmers, contrary to lies being peddled by the opposition,” he said.
He said the PF government will not disadvantage its citizens.
“We will be with you. Our purpose as a government is to help you,” he said.
And Mr Sichinga said maize exports to neighbouring countries are not donations but business deals.
“It must be understood that these maize exports are not donations but are being paid for,” Mr Sichinga said.
He also revealed that the urea fertiliser tender was cancelled because there were irregularities.
“The PF government does not tolerate corruption and that tender process was flawed with irregularities,” he said.
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