Govt to empower 47,000 east farmers

Government says it will this farming season sponsor slightly over 47,000 farmers in Chipata district. 

This is from the previous 45,800 farmers assisted through FISP, the Farmer Input Support Programme, under the E- Voucher system in the district.

District Administrative Officer, Kapembwa Sikazwe further says that government will invest over eighty-one million Kwacha towards FISP in the district. 

He explained that a farmer will contribute 400 Kwacha while government will contribute 1,700 Kwacha per pack. 

Mr. Kapembwa warned that farmer groups that will be found with ghost farmers on the beneficiary list will be penalised as government does not want to put such huge investment to waste. 

And Mr. Kapembwa says the district is expected to experience maize shortage as a result of poor rainfall recorded in the last farming season. 

He advised farmers not to be overzealous with the booming maize market in neighbouring countries and sell all their produce.