Central Province leadership warns agro-dealers against sale of uncertified fertilizers

Central Province Permanent Secretary, Dr. Milner Mwanakampwe, has issued a stern warning to agro-dealers over the sale of uncertified fertilizers, cautioning that such products harm crop yields across Central Province and Zambia as a whole.

At a press briefing in Kabwe on Friday, Mwanakampwe stressed that agro-dealers repackaging fertilizers for companies not certified by the Zambia Bureau of Standards or other authorities would face serious consequences.

Alongside addressing fertilizer quality, he urged Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) recipients to participate actively in the agricultural value chain by selling part of their harvest to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

“Ministry of Agriculture officials will inspect FISP beneficiaries’ fields to verify genuine cultivation,” Mwanakampwe stated.

He said: “Those failing to supply the FRA could be disqualified from FISP assistance next year.”

Mwanakampwe also raised concerns about a rising trend of individuals redeeming FISP inputs without land for cultivation.

“These measures aim to enhance accountability in the agricultural sector, ensuring that support programs truly benefit legitimate farmers,” he said.

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