15,000 Central farmers redeem inputs
By Thandizo Banda
A TOTAL of 15,055 farmers across Central Province have redeemed their farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP).
This is against a total of 162,711 farmers registered under FISP in the region.
Kapiri Mposhi District has so far registered the largest number of farmers, who have redeemed their inputs, standing at 3,103, and Ngabwe District has the least number of farmers at 162.
This is according to information obtained by The Mast from Central Province principal public relations Officer Tobias Phiri.
Phiri said more farmers were currently redeeming their inputs from the government.
“We are encouraging the farmers to redeem their inputs so that they prepare for the next farming season ahead of time. This will not only help us to secure the food basket but to create jobs through agriculture,” Phiri said.
Meanwhile, the government, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), has so far purchased a total of 190,505.92 metric tons of maize against the initial target of 80,000 metric tons.
“This means the target has been beaten by over 110,000 metric tonnes.
Payments to farmers who supplied maize are being made after the government released over K 232 million to the province. This is encouraging to our farmers, and our appeal is that this year they need to do more so that we can have more maize next year, beating this year’s yield,” Phiri said.
