By 
The government has introduced mechanisms to monitor agro dealers’ performance to prevent malpractices as seed suppliers begin deliveries across the country for the 2024/2025 farming season.
Agriculture Minister, Reuben Phiri, announced the measures in a ministerial statement presented to Parliament, stating that 779 input suppliers had applied online to operate as agro dealers.
“These suppliers have been screened and verified, and the ministry has put in place mechanisms to monitor their performance and ensure that malpractices are curtailed,” Phiri said.
He also revealed that 17 suppliers had been contracted to supply and deliver various seeds to districts nationwide, with deliveries already underway.
He noted that the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for the 2024/2025 season targets 1,024,434 farmers and will be implemented through two modalities: Direct Input Supply (DIS) and the electronic voucher (e-voucher) system.
The DIS would serve 285,168 farmers across 42 districts, while the e-voucher system would reach 739,266 beneficiaries in 74 districts.
Phiri added that training on FISP modalities for Ministry of Agriculture staff and agro dealers began on August 26, 2024, and is ongoing.
“So far, the ministry has conducted four training sessions for each category,” he stated.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments