INPUTS DELAY WORRIES FARMERS

Government should quickly flag off the distribution of farming inputs for farmers adequately prepare for the season and avert a poor yield, former National Union for Small scale farmer’s general secretary Frank Kayula has said. Speaking in an interview Dr Kayula noted that farming inputs are the bedrock of farming and should not be distributed late if government’s objectives of food self-sufficiency and exportation of farm produce are to be achieved. He said that the delay in flagging of farming inputs will lead to delay in the preparation of the farming season. Dr Kayula explained that agricultural activities are time bound and nature dependent, especially that in Zambia farming is mostly rain-fed. He added that any attempt to ignore the time factor in farming will lead to poor harvest, low income for the farmers, and hunger and food insecurity in the nation. He lamented that having been to different parts of the country, he has observed that fertilizer is still in the hands of agro dealers as government has not given a go ahead to start distributing it. Dr Kayula said that the delay in the distribution of inputs undermines chances of a good harvest for farmers and subsequently food security. He lamented that if farmers plant late, chances are that they will have low yields and this in turn will reduce the income generated from their farming activities. Dr Kayula said that government through the ministry of agriculture should give a go ahead to distribute inputs. He wondered at the rationale behind giving farmers inputs late when it should be the other way round. “The delay in the distribution of inputs undermines chances of a good harvest for farmers and subsequently food security. “If farmers plant late, chances are that they will have low yields and this in turn will reduce the income generated from their farming activities,” he said.