The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) says the delay to deliver the 2013/2014 farming inputs in some areas by government shows lack of political will.
CSPR Information and Communications officer Diana Ngula told Qfm News that it is unfortunate and sad to note that many farmers have not yet received their farming inputs.
Ms Ngula said there is need for the ministry of agriculture to hear the cries of the farmers in rural areas who have not yet received the inputs.
She said that the delay in delivering farming inputs especially to rural areas is worrying as it poses a threat to household food security.
Meanwhile the chiefdoms of Chitungulu and Mwanya in the valley areas of Lundazi district have been severely hit by hunger with villagers surviving on wild fruits and raw mangoes.
Chief Chitungulu has expressed worry about the delayed farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to the valley area.
The traditional leader appealed to government to immediately send farming inputs for the 2013 to 2014 farming season before the area is completely cut-off from the district due to poor roads.
Chief Chitungulu told Lundazi District Commissioner Janet Mvula who was visiting chiefs palaces over the weekend to inspect government funded projects, that his subjects were surviving on wild fruits and raw mangoes due to hunger that has rocked the area.
Chief Chitungulu mentioned Nthumbe, Zokwe, Chutwa, Lumimba, Mbuzi, Kataba, Matizi and Chitungulu as most affected villages that require immediate relief food.
In response Lundazi District Commissioner Janet Mvula told Chief Chitungulu that government was aware about perpetual hunger situation in the three chiefdoms of Chitungulu,Mwanya and Kazermbe due to the wild animals that destroy crops and draught experienced in the last farming season.
The DC f6urther informed Chief Chitungulu that her Office has since written to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit in Chipata to urgently send relief food to the three affected chiefdoms before the rainy season gains momentum as the area is prone to being cut-off from the rest of the district.
If we all agree that mining as the back-bone of Zambia’s economy is no longer guaranteed, our next bet is agriculture. If that becomes our basis for survival, then all has to be on point, including inputs at the right time.
The govt has the will but it is the understanding and required level of planning which is not there at all. MoAS should be run by people who understand the industry and not the economic theorist we have there now.