Some small scale farmers in Kafue district have received rotten maize seed under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP).
Those affected include farmers of Lukolongo Twapenga Cooperative who have since complained that the damaged seed would affect their yields.
Lukolongo Twapenga Cooperative chairperson, Matthias Chakwana, told NAIS in an interview that most of the farmers in the area discovered that the seed variety MM 604 that was delivered to their cooperative was damaged.
Mr Chakwana said the farmers complained that many seed pockets delivered to them contained rotten grain seeds.
And Acting Senior Agricultural Officer, Dominic Namanyungu, confirmed the development, adding that although the seed did not have pests, some pockets contained damaged seed grain that could not germinate.
Mr Namayungu observed that the MM 604 seed could not have been graded as some grains were big while others were small and rotten although its expiry date is May, 2010.
However, Mr Namayungu advised the farmers to plant the seed so that the district could assess the germination rate and advise accordingly.
Meanwhile, farmers in Lukolongo are happy that the allocation of inputs is done by the Camp Agricultural Committee.
The Lulolongo Twapenga Cooperative has 147 members who are the beneficiaries of the FISP.
ZANIS
Stop playing monkey tricks on the farmers. Without them there would be starvation.
would be good to know what percentage of seed delivered to farmers is sub-standard in order for improvements can be made next year.
“Plant the seeds then we will asses the germination rate” what kind of thinkin is this Namayungu.
go asses them b4 plantin it anly rains once a year
Lukolongo Twapenga Cooperative. The name implies bad fortune and lack. No wonder goodness is following them. Change the name and you will have good seed and good things come your way.
System-wise, something must be done about quality control. If the seed is wrong all efforts will be a waste. Gabbage in gabbage out. Quality control is paramount here.
If they have replacement seed, please give those farmers if there’s still time to plant. Otherwise plant whatever they have. Better than nothing.
‘TheJew’ that statement you quoted by the Acting Senior Agricultural Officer made my lower jaw drop. Whoever is supervising this individual, must not confirm him on this position… and if his acting because someone is on leave please cancel your leave and go put you house in order.
Plant, wait for germination then access and i suppose the rains will also be waiting…
My bad… assess not access.