Agriculture Minister has urged the one million beneficiaries under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) should start making their K400 contributions tomorrow towards the program.

Speaking when he toured Seed Companies in Lusaka, Michael Katambo said government will subsidize the K1, 700 of seed ahead of the 2020-2021 farming season.

Mr. Katambo stated that Smart Zambia is already dealing with the matter and all the captured 1 million farmers are already in the system.

“Let me gladly announce to the nation that today the 15th of July, the 1 million beneficiaries under the FISP should start to make their K400 contribution towards the program and government will obviously subsidize the K1,700 because Smart Zambia is already dealing with the matter and all captured 1 million farmers are in the system.”

He said it is a directive by President Edgar Lungu that farmers should receive their inputs on time, hence the Ministry is monitoring businesses of all the nine contracted seed suppliers, who are supposed to supply farming inputs under FISP for the next agriculture season.

Mr. Katambo added that it is important that good quality seed which is a key component in the program is delivered on time to farmers to allow them plan because agriculture involves adequate planning.

“We are doing the monitoring of businesses to all our nine contracted seed suppliers who are supposed to supply on the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) for 2020 and 2021 farming season.”

“So it is important that we come and see for ourselves that the farmers are assured to receive their input on time. This is a directive by President Edgar Lungu that farmers should receive their inputs on time,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Katambo said extension staff are on the ground disseminating information to farmers on good agricultural practices so that the two tonnes which farmers produce per hectare is increased to 5 tonnes per hectare.