Govt insists on timely farming inputs distribution

BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes GOVERNMENT has challenged companies contracted to deliver farming inputs across the country to ensure they quickly meet their obligation. Agriculture Minister, Michael Katambo, stressed the importance of ensuring farmers accessed their farming inputs on time. Mr Katambo, is impressed that Nyimba Investments had completed the delivery of farming inputs ahead of the planting season, challenged other companies should to emulate the firm. Government, he said, was impressed that fertiliser for entire Central province had been delivered. He was speaking recently in Serenje when he inspected storage warehouses for Nyimba Investments. “The onus was now on the farmers to deposit their K400 so that they could access the commodities.  He said the desire of President Edgar Lungu was to ensure that inputs for the 2020/21 farming season were supplied on time so as to enable the farmers prepare their fields. “My message to other input suppliers is that emulate Nyimba and Neria. You can see that they are supplying on time and now the provincial administration should ensure that farmers make their deposit. “This is really gratifying and as minister I am happy that we had engaged serious suppliers,” Mr Katambo said. Central Province acting Provincial Agricultural Coordinator (PACO), Patrick Longwani, said that the farmers should quickly deposit their contributions so that they could access the inputs Mr Longwani said that with the early delivery, he expected Central province recording a bumper harvest. “We wish to assure the farmers that we are ready for them. Once they make their contributions, we would be available to ensure that they get their fertiliser,”said Mr Longwa And Nyimba Investments Head-Sales and Marketing Manager, Willings Mulendema, said that his company was engaged to supply 33,000 metric tonnes for the entire Central province which been delivered. With the timely delivery, he said that he was optimistic that the farmers would be encouraged to make their deposits so as to access the commodities way ahead of the planting season. “As Nyimba we wish to assure the farmers that we won’t let them down by failing to deliver the inputs on time.  We are also grateful to you minister and the president for the opportunity to supply and we assure you of our continued timely delivery,” Mr Mulendema said. The Sun