Fertiliser Bill ready for tabling—Chimwendo
Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda says government will table the Fertiliser Bill during the ongoing Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting of Parliament.
In an interview yesterday, he said the Bill is among various proposed laws expected to be tabled in Parliament.
The development comes amid calls by stakeholders, including the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Irrigation for government to have a law regulating the fertiliser industry as fertiliser is a strategic commodity.
Chimwendo Banda, who is also Minister of Youth and Sports and the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) Task Force chairperson, said the Bill will help to protect farmers, but also ensure that the country benefits from the fertiliser industry.
He said: “We must ensure that farm inputs such as fertiliser and seeds are the best in the country. Farmers have to be protected from dubious business people who would sell bad seeds and any type of fertiliser. So, these bills are coming to protect farmers.”
Among other things, the Bill seeks to address issues of fertiliser quality, who should be involved in the fertiliser trade, manufacturing and penalties for flouting the law.
Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Irrigation chairperson Sameer Suleman has since hailed government for moving to have the Bill tabled in Parliament.
“We hope this Bill will help government to have full control over fertiliser. Fertiliser is an important commodity and needs to be highly regulated by government,” he said.
Suleman also called on government to table the Seed Bill and the Right to Food Bill which he said are crucial in ensuring food security in the country.
Stakeholders want government to control proliferation of uncertified fertiliser and regulate prices of fertiliser to prevent traders from charging exorbitant prices.
