Chadiza District increases maize production

SUN REPORTER Writes CHADIZA district in the Eastern Province has recorded an increase in maize production from an initial 800,000 by 50kg bags produced last season to 1,000,000 by 50kg bags produced this year. Chadiza District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) Kabange Masengais pleased that the district has made a significant contribution to the country’s bumper harvest that has been recorded this farming season. Mr Masenga hailed the 30 thousand registered farmers in the district for their tireless efforts they have exhibited in the agriculture sector. “Currently we have 30,000 registered farmers in the district and out of these only 14,710 are on Fertilizer Inputs Support Program (FISP), but all of them have worked hard and they should be commended for their strides in improving the agriculture sector in the district,” he said. Mr Masenga is optimistic that some farmers will have significant food security as the maize that will be harvested will be used for consumption at households and the surplus will be sold. The DACO however, noted with concern that some farmers in the district are on the verge of serious starvation as they began selling their crop when it was still standing in the field. “I wish to note with concern that some of our farmers are likely to face starvation and they will need help in terms of relief maize because they sold their crop when it was still standing in the field and they sold it at a very cheap price of about K50 per 59kg bag,” he said. Mr Masenga has since appealed to farmers to keep enough maize for consumption and only sale the surplus. He expressed happiness that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has announced the crop flow price for all the crops and that farmers can now have a way of bargaining for fair prices at which to sale their produce even with private crop buyers. The DACO also assured farmers that are not yet registered that registration is ongoing and that government may consider increasing the number of farmers to be on FISP. The Sun