Barclays Bank Zambia Plc has announced the successful conclusion of its support to the 2018/2019 Farmer Input Support Programme.
As one of the six participating banks on the Farmer Input Support Programme, Barclays Bank Zambia Plc achieved a 94% success rate in deposits from targeted farmers in all the locations assigned to the Bank for the 2018/2019 season, placing the Bank among the top players supporting Government in driving agricultural growth.
Commenting on the successful conclusion of the exercise, Barclays Bank Zambia Plc Managing Director Mizinga Melu said the bank is delighted to have worked on the FISP programme again.
Mrs. Melu reiterated the Bank’s commitment to supporting the Agriculture sector adding that they have continued to supplement Government’s efforts in ensuring that the sector diversifies and grows through enhanced banking facilities and systems.
“As we make the critical transition from Barclays to Absa, we will continue to align ourselves as the number one supporter of the entire agriculture value chain in order to improve efficiency in the distribution and access of farming inputs, particularly to small scale farmers across the country, she added.
Mrs. Melu said Barclays remains fully committed in supporting the Farmer Input Support Programme going forward building on the success from the previous farming seasons.
She said as Barclays Bank Zambia transitions to Absa, the Bank remains committed to providing exceptional banking solutions and providing meaningful support to key economic sectors that fuel growth, aligned to the Seventh National Development Plan of the country.
Always trying to sound politically correct madam Melu it would be good to recognise the challenges as well you have had with goverments inefficiencies farmers sleeping outside some branches in rural areas waiting etc …
Does Ms Melu work for PF? Or shameless you are trying to sound politically correct yourself for your PHD party? You should take off your political spectacles at appropriate times. Ms Melu doesnt need to appease PF
There is nothing PHD here ought to understand the way the FISP system works farmers deposit a cooperative fee which madam Melu is referring to more like a comittment and based on this GRZ provides them with the monies in the e-vouchers to draw farming inputs … My contention is that farmers after depositing these monies have been hounding agro dealers for inputs when in fact the government hasn’t disbursed money’s into the e-vouchees. Some are now going back to the banks hustling for the little deposits becoz to make matters worse they have not yet been paid for the crop they sold from the last marketing season. Ba One Zambia Melu doesn’t for PF but if she is early morning Jogging with ECL and PF team what am I to assume ??? How many CEOs and their exec team are jogging early morning…
I wish the article could elaborate on what the 94% success rate in deposits really means in the context of FISP. Isn’t FISP a subsidy programme in which the government supports farmers with subsidised agriculture inputs? So in this context who is depositing to whom and what is the 94% measuring? Quite confusing!!
On another front, it seems our banking sector, just like the other large economic sectors is also about to be dominated by South Africa. ABSA in South African and so is Stanbic and FNB. Retail is already South Africa. Even if we might be dominated by foreign-owned entities, a bit of diversity will not be bad. In this regard, I preferred Barclays- British and for the same reason, I am happy to see Choppies – Botswanan, growing in dominance to counter Shoprite and Pick n Pay.
Achieve 94% yet ripping customers with charges!!
Well done Mizinga Melu.
Now lend that Money to good SMEs.
Let’s grow production and our economy.
I’m glad to hear of Barclays Bank doing some good for a change. I wish they would divest from fossil fuels though, and invest the money in renewables instead.