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Government says it is grateful to the Royal Norwegian Embassy for supplementing its efforts in achieving Food security and poverty reduction in rural parts of the country.
And Expanded Food Security Pack Programme officer Fanwell Kabbila said that the five year pilot programme is targeting to benefit 3,000 households across Itezhi tezhi district.
Itezhi tezhi District Commissioner Mr. Roy Nang’alelwa says the food security programme will go a long way supplementing efforts of the Fertiliser Input Support Programme which wholly funded by government.
Mr Nang’alelwa said the programme will increase agriculture productivity and reduce poverty among vulnerable people in the district.
ZANIS reports that the Itezhi tezhi District Commissioner was speaking when he officiated at the Norwegian Funded Expanded Food Security Pack Program(EFSP) Stakeholders meeting at Itezhi tezhi council chamber.
He said that the successful implementation of the programme for Itezhi tezhi district during the 2012/2013 programme has been based on strong commitment from the government through ministry of community development and development partners.
Mr Nang’alelwa also cautioned officers involved in the implementation of the programme against corruption and malpractices.
“Implementing officers, local area councillors should avoid corruption and malpractices of the programme such as charging vulnerable some fees in order to obtain the inputs. Give the inputs to intended beneficiaries” Mr Nang’alelwa said.
EFSP is a multimillion Norwegian Government’s funded programme targeted at vulnerable but viable households that combines system of free inputs supply with intensive support and farming practices using conservation farming and extension methodologies.
The pilot programme which is worth K80 billion (KR80 million)which is being implemented in Nyimba, Itezhi tezhi and Chadiza districts simultaneously will cover 12 districts and reach 60,000 t0 90,000 beneficiaries.
And Expanded Food Security Pack Programme officer Fanwell Kabbila said that the five year pilot programme is targeting to benefit 3,000 households across Itezhi tezhi district.
He said that the robust program is addressing the adverse conditions and challenges faced by most households in rural Zambia and the Fertilizer support programme.
“The programme will include seasonal input subsidies with structured extension services support, land use practices, promotion and strengthening of the local Agro dealers in the delivery of inputs” Mr Kabbila said.
Mr. Kabbila said that the main innovations to the systems of input supply will be the pack sizes and use of agro-dealers to stock and issue inputs to farmers based on the E-voucher.
“ The EFSP is also promoting sustainable agricultural and land management practices among beneficiaries as well as promote storage and marketing methods at household level, village, district so as to reduce losses, improve food security and access to markets” Mr. Kabbila said.
Mr. Kabbila however said that the district faced challenges such as late supply of inputs and some villagers were cheating by giving NRCs of deceased people.
“We received the inputs on 12th December and the last consignment on second week of January 2013 when rains had already started and this proved a challenge in transporting the inputs since some areas were cut-off due to folded plains.
