Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Solwezi district has received more than K800,000,000 from sales of fertilizer and seed under the Fertilizer Support Programme to farmers in the district.
Acting District Marketing and Cooperatives officer Francis Mwansa said in an interview, Friday, that his office has collected K872,908,572 from farmers through maize seed and fertilizer sales in less than two weeks but due erratic supply of fertilizer all stocks has since been exhausted in the shed.
Mr Mwansa said that his office only received 15,352 x 50kg bags (1919 packs) instead of 19,200 x 50 kg bags (2400 packs) resulting in a serious shortage of both urea and basal fertilizer in the district.
He nevertheless, advised the farmers to only deposit money for maize seed so that they are able to plant as they wait for more fertilizer expected to be delivered soon.
He appealed to farmers not to panic as the situation was being handled by higher authorities to ensure that the remaining fertilizer is sent to the district.
By Tuesday this week about 136 registered cooperatives had collected their consignment of fertilizer from Nyiombo depot.
Meanwhile 15 registered cooperatives from Mushindamo block may not benefit from this years fertilizer support programme due to the late submission of the farmers applications forms.
Chairperson for Lwambanga cooperative, Abel Kafwimbi said that he was not happy that his block had been left out in this year’s fertilizer support programme.
Mr Kafwimbi, who is also Vice Chairperson for Mushindamo block, said that the fertilizer got finished and the entire Mushindamo block only managed to get 240 x 50 bags (30 packs) which have not been collected yet.
The cooperatives that submitted late include, Kafifolo, Lubinga, Lifesaver, Lunga source, Kan’gamo, Kyamato, Mushindamo, Masaka, Milembe, Kashiba, Kyafulabunga, Lwamibanga, Kasanfu, Kapako and Minkonk.
However, District Agriculture Committee Chairperson (DAC), Paul Chipoya said the distribution of the fertilizer has been okay.
He said that the number of bags of fertilizer was too low as compared to the number of applicants, adding that farmers bought off all the stocks in the shed resulting to some cooperatives not benefiting.
Mr Chipoya said that Mushindamo block should not blame DAC for not participating due their late submission of applications, but told the 15 cooperatives that in case of any additional fertilizer the DAC may considered them.
Ni 1
#1,Why should you be excited about being number one. I expect you kids to behave that way
#2 Undertaker, don’t spoil the fun, it’s Annan’s lucky day today. Congratulations #1!
#3,how would this blog lo0k if all the bloggers just indicated I am #1,2,3………………..,700
What an irrelevant story, no wonder we love playing our little game so much.
BTW K800 million is equivalent to about €160,000. The Germans would say “ein Tropfen auf dem heissen Stein” a little drop of water falling on a heated rock…
ATASE!!!!!
I wanted to be number 1.
I guess I have to try again tomorrow.
Congratulations Solwezi farmers for taking advantage of this Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP).
We expect bumper harvests from you this farming season and we need not see high mealie meal prices or the importation of maize because we expect that you will work day and night to provide the country a bumper harvest.
This is a big step to the diversification of the economy from mineral wealth to agriculture. People of Solwezi, please do not be alarmed as the shortage of fertilizer will be handled in due time.
I applaud you for taking a leap to feed the nation. We look forward to hearing the news of the bumper harvest sometime next year.
As for now, WELL DONE.
good the cooperative my mother belongs is not their so she will receive her pack and make enough money for school fees next year.(after voting for MMD no hand outs)
#5. Nine Chale
Why compare Germany to Zambia. Germany is an industrialized nation where as Zambia is still a third world nation.
Compare Zambia with Malawi or Tanzania or something and your argument will be relevant otherwise you might as well talk down Zambia on a German blog.
#4 take it easy, why dont they rank all the football teams that take part in a tournament. You have commented twice out of four but you havent said anything relating to the issue at hand. You are as good as number one. Back to business, agriculture is the back bone of poor zambians and therefore shotage of fertilizer & late aplication should not be an issue, something can still be done about it. These guys realy dont know what to prioritise, wake up.
#9 FMC, it’s not my intention to talk down Zambia and I think there’s no harm in comparing ourselves with the more developed economies because there’s a lot we can learn from them. We can only get better by comparing ourselves with the best and not the worst.
#11. Nine Chale
I understand but there are also groups in comparison. This is what I mean, A Grade 7 cannot compare himself to a Grade 12 because of difference in levels and so the comparison cannot stand (unless otherwise).
It would be good if Zambia actually had the capacity to compare itself to Germany but Germans have got higher buying power than Zambians and also Germany has a much larger population than Zambia and so the comparison cannot stand.
In the case of a country that is doing better, you might as well compare Zambia to a country that is at least one level above it like Namibia or somewhere in that rank. I know you want better for Zambia but we also have to be realistic.
#12 FMC You are quite right, I am actually a realistic person and I know what you mean. We can be confindent in our own level of progress. I rest my case.
#10 Easy man , I cant get any sense out of your arguement.
#5 I wish we had a lot of people like you.Do you realise that most of the billions the Governments boasts about are just a few million dollars?The kwacha is weak so 800m is not big.I fact a PF MP(Kambwili)donated things worth $70,000 to his consituency.Lets be serious:this is not news.The shops in freedomway make much more than that.I just wonder is corrupt ZRA is getting the tax we so much need from those traders.BY the way I am not PF,JUST A COMMENT!
To be honest, this fertilizer story is begining to bore us! In the end we’ll start a fight. Government should be ashamed to anounce the k800m of sales without telling us how much was the landed cost! Is this k800m profit, break even, or cost to cost? Please help me here before i swing my panga!
WHAT A LOSS-£122,000? IS THAT ALL YOU A DISTRICT CAN MANAGE TO SELL. THATS WHAT A SALES PERSON (IN A MOBILE PHONE STORE) CAN EASILY MANAGE TO MAKE IN A MONTH OR LESS. ZAMBIA NEVER CEASES TO SURPRISE YOU.
THE GOVT MUST SPEARHEAD THE CREATION OF MANUFACTURING (VALUE ADDITION) INDUSTRIES INVOLVING ALL THE MINERALS ZAMBIA HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH AND OTHER RESOURCES. DON’T TALK ABOUT LOOSE CHANGE FROM ALLAN SUGAR. BE REAL YOU CHAPS.
What was this collection…..profit or what?
Chi UNDERTAKER kalele. We know Zambians are sad people they can not have banter. Go away. It`s just banter you sad little girl!
#9 Aha Zambia has been and will always be a third world country. Stop kicking yourself and start having fun. Unless you are a beneficiary. Batata Zambia will be worse if not the same 50 years from now. Ready to put my mortgage on it.
Lets have banter guys. It is good for our health.
I concur with number 2. Zambians are generally occupied with being number 1. The same reason why we can’t progress. Some of these European countries i.e. Norway are committed to encouraging group work. Pupils and students are supposed to work together.
So please comment and let us evaluate issues together with the aim of building our country.
Dont tell me that fertilizer was imported,what is happening to Nitrogen chemicals of Zambia NCZ? Govt shoud help these companies so we can get back to manufcturing
Abengi tamwakwata amano mulifipuba sana. Muleikalafye if you don’t have anything to say.
How can you say the story is boring?
There are so many headlines on LT and if still you cannot find one wait for an update. M******mwe!