By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Chingola District has flagged off the distribution of farming inputs under Food Security Pack (FSP) for 2023-2024 farming season.
About 1,669 beneficiaries have received the packs these are vulnerable but viable households in the district under the Food Security Pack (FSP) program
Speaking at the event at Muchinshi Cooperative in Chingola District, Chingola Mayor Johnson Kang’ombe stated that the district has received 100% of maize seed, legumes, 1669 × 50 Kg of urea fertilizer and 3338 x 50Kg bags of D- Compound fertilizer.
He expressed gratitude to government for empowering the community with 2 bags of D-Compound fertilizer, 1 bag of urea fertilizer, 835× 10 Kg bags of soya beans, 834×10 Kg bags Mbereshi beans and 1669 × 10 Kg bags of maize seeds for this farming season.
Mr. Kang’ombe has encouraged farmers to use the farming inputs for the intended purpose.
He urged the farming community in the district to increase their yields this farming season and grow enough maize to ensure food security at household level.
The Mayor said it will be disappointing to find farmers lacking food in homes when the government through the Ministry of Community development has provided inputs for them.
He also warned those who have a tendency of selling fertilizer to other farmers to stop.
Meanwhile, Chingola District Community Development Officer Grace Mapulanga disclosed that according to government guidelines, FSP beneficiaries are people who are vulnerable but viable and do not make any contribution towards inputs, while beneficiaries under FISP make a K400 contribution for them to have access to the inputs.
She said people that are eligible to benefit from the FSP programme, are households keeping orphans, terminally ill people, people who are differently abled, the aged and female headed household.
Ms. Mapulanga explained that the beneficiaries are supposed pay back 2 bags of maize after harvesting
Season.
And one of the beneficiaries thanked government for the pack given and promised to use then for the intended purpose.
Speaking earlier Muchinshi Councillor Moses Kaputunga appreciated government for the farmers input pack received for it is going to alleviate poverty
