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The United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) has called on the government to urgently deliver farming inputs to all farmers nationwide, emphasising the need to streamline the e-voucher system for contracted agro-dealers as promised in recent ministerial commitments.
Jackson Silavwe, UKA Chairperson for Communications, said Tuesday that timely input delivery and system improvements would bolster the agricultural sector and address Zambia’s ongoing food shortages, which have persisted over the past three years.
According to Silavwe, this initiative would empower farmers to increase household incomes and enhance national food security through robust production this season.
“At the heart of Zambia’s agricultural challenges is persistent load shedding, which has crippled small-scale enterprises and affected productivity nationwide,” Silavwe stated.
He noted that ZESCO’s unreliable electricity supply had not only hindered industries but also impacted agriculture severely, especially among rural small-scale farmers who face reduced yields and halted irrigation.
“When crops fail, both farmers and consumers suffer; food scarcity drives up prices of staple foods,” he added.
Silavwe criticised last season’s challenges, including erratic rainfall and limited access to affordable inputs, which he said exacerbated hardships for farmers and consumers alike.
As Zambia anticipates favorable rainfall this 2024/2025 season, Silavwe urged the government to support farmers comprehensively.
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