Farmers in Sesheke have been warned against misdirecting agricultural inputs supplied in the district under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) that they will face the wrath of the law.
Sesheke district agricultural coordinator Peter Kamusaki said some farmers have the tendency of selling subsidies to businessmen who later resell to unsuspecting buyers.
Mr Kamusaki said this is in the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Friday brief availed to the media on Monday.
“My office is aware of some farmers who sell subsidised FISP inputs to businessmen who later resell the inputs to neighbouring countries and other districts outside Western Province,” he said.
He called on camp extension officers to caution the farmers against selling government subsidised inputs as all inputs under FISP that are received should be used for the intended purpose within the district.
In Solwezi, the Ministry of Agriculture, Musika and ZNFU have met all agro-dealers and some national input suppliers who have been selected to participate in the FISP in the next 2016/17 farming season to sensitive them on the quality, marketing, point-of-sale terminals and standards of storage for their inputs.
The meeting is aimed at helping agro-dealers to understand the code of conduct during the inputs distribution exercise.
Meanwhile, farmers in Chisamba have reported an increase in cattle rustling in the district.
Farmers have reported thefts of more than 15 cattle, small animals and farm implements in less than one month.
“The situation is becoming worse as goats, sheep, centre pivots motors, car batteries, besides other farm produce, are been stolen almost on a daily basis,” the farmers say.
Some farmers have called for intensified security patrols to safeguard the area.
