Fertiliser coupons distribution begins

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is this Tuesday expected to launch this year’s Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) under which 1.5 million farming households will get subsidised fertiliser and seeds.

The ministry’s public relations officer Sarah Tione said on Monday Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Professor Peter Mwanza is expected to preside over the launch at Chipoka Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Salima.

The coupon distribution starts amid fears that the exercise has delayed as some parts of the country have already experienced rains and farmers have planted.

But Tione said the coupon distribution is timely.

“People have received coupons later than the previous years because this year, we wanted to distribute subsidised fertiliser first to avoid past mistakes where people had coupons, but could not get the implements in the shops,” said Tione.

Last year, the coupon distribution exercise started in October.