Farmers in Chinsali District have begun making payments for the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) for the 2022/2023 agriculture season.
Senior Agriculture Officer, Frank Sindazi tells Diamond News that out of 8,466 beneficiaries about 400 farmers have so far contributed the mandatory K400 to facilitate distribution of inputs.
A Check at the Farmers Training Center found farmers from Lubu and Nkula receiving forms that grant permission to deposit the required funds.
However, some have bemoaned delays in the process they say will adversely affect crop production because by now they should have planted and not be queuing to make contributions for farming inputs.
This comes a week after Agriculture Minister Mtholo Phiri disclosed that delays in this year’s FISP distribution are due to ongoing reviews at his ministry and failure by local suppliers of fertilizer to deliver the commodities on time.
By Cecilia Kayaya Mporokoso