SMALLHOLDER farmers in Monze District in Southern Province, who have made their K400 contributions, to enable them to access inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme for the 2025/2026 agricultural season.

This came to light when Agriculture Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, John Mulongoti, toured selected agro-dealers in Monze, contracted by government under the FISP programme.

Mr Mulongoti expressed happiness that farmers are currently redeeming their codes and accessing inputs in readiness for the farming season.

The government has transitioned FISP to an electronic voucher modality nationwide, aiming to provide better choices for farmers, enhance efficiency, and promote transparency in the programme's implementation.

Mr Mulongoti said there is enough fertilizer and seed for farmers to access during the 2025/2026 season. He said farmers will get inputs on time to ensure food security and appreciate them for the bumper harvest they registered during the 2024/2025 agricultural season.

Mr Mulongoti reaffirmed that redeeming of inputs by farmers has started in September, so that by mid-December, all the 1,024,434 farmers are supported.

He urged farmers not to sell the inputs but put them to productive use to enhance productivity and production so as to contribute to the 10 million metric tonnes production target of maize by 2027.

The other crop production targets to be met include one million metric tonnes of soya beans and one million tonnes of wheat.

Speaking on behalf of other beneficiary farmers, Purity Nchimunya, of Keemba Agricultural Camp, thanked the government for the early distribution of inputs to farmers.

Ms Nchimunya said farmers never anticipated receiving inputs this early, following what they experienced in the past years.

She noted that farmers are fully geared to commence production of various crops as input delivery is early.

Ms Nchimunya pointed out that the government should continue with the early delivery of inputs to empower farmers economically, enable them to educate their children, and feed their families.

Director for Jolushi Investments Limited, John Lubasi, told Mr. Mulongoti that farmers are currently accessing fertilizer, and seed.

Mr Lubasi noted that farmers are also collecting agricultural equipment such as ploughs, plough shares, and agro chemicals.

He asserted that farmers have a variety of choices to access that include; fertilizer, seed, agro equipment, and agro chemicals under the electronic voucher system.   

Mr Lubasi commended the government for starting the programme early, adding that his company is servicing farmers in Monze, Namwala, and Gwembe.

Monze District Commissioner Mwanza Malambo says the district will be food secure as the inputs have been delivered on time.

Mr Malambo said farmers will have time to prepare their fields and have their fertilizer within their door steps, noting that the government policy of early delivery of inputs will ensure that farmers have access to food throughout.

“Farming is business, our farmers at the end of the day will definitely have surplus whereby they will be able to sell to the Food Reserve Agency. By doing so, they will be able to improve in their living standards,” said Mr. Malambo 

Meanwhile, Depot Manager for Farmers First, Andrew Mandunga, says 1,823 bags of urea and 1,466 bags of basal fertilizer have been redeemed by farmers from his company.

Mr Mandunga told Mr Mulongoti, there are enough stocks of inputs in Monze, while another holding shed is fully stocked in Pemba.

He clarified that in case Monze runs out of stocks on agro-inputs, his company can quickly collect from the Pemba holding shed.