The Ministry of Agriculture in Kafue District has launched investigations into reports of rotten maize seed that was delivered to a cooperative in Kafue’s Lukolongo area.
Kafue District Agriculture Coordinator John Hikanyemu told ZANIS in an interview today that his office has dispatched a team of experts to verify the reports.
He said the outcome of the investigation would determine the course of action the Ministry will take as to whether farmers should go ahead and plant the seed or not.
Mr. Hikanyemu who could not disclose the number of bags involved but confirmed that the cooperative involved was only one, said if the seeds were delivered rotten; the blame should be on the supplier.
He has meanwhile described the inputs distribution exercise in the district as going on smoothly.
He said so far 95% of the inputs have been distributed to cooperatives throughout the district by selected transporters and would come to a close anytime soon.
Mr. Hikanyemu said it was good that farmers had started receiving seed and D compound fertilizer.
He disclosed that this year’s number of beneficiaries was 10,640 compared to last year’s 3,240.
Mr. Hikanyemu stated that the increase in the number of farmer’s participation also saw an increase in the number of inputs from 25,920 to 42,560 bags of fertilizer.
He, however, noted that the slow pace of loading the trucks by the warehouse manager was a source of worry to many farmers in the district.
Mr. Hikanyemu said Omnia Zambia has only one manager who is loading and verifying both D and Urea fertilizer.
He said this has made transporters take long to load before distributing to sheds. He said there was need for Omnia Zambia to work out modalities to ensure loading is much faster.
Meanwhile Mr. Hikanyemu has dispelled rumors that fertilizer bags being delivered to Chipapa farm were under weights.
He said this was not true and that his office has not received any such complaints from farmer in the area.
Mr. Hikanyemu said it was common to receive such complaints every year adding that no such rumors have always been found to be true.
He explained that the problem of under weights normally originates from the source of packaging the fertilizer.
ZANIS
Food serves lives, rains [Like time]are not waiting 4 any of us. Give them good seed and sort not the administrative stuff lata.
that should read ‘and sort out’ my bad.