adminPatrick Chitumba in Binga
BINGA District has received several tonnes of farming inputs from the Presidential Farming Inputs Scheme in a development that will further eradicate poverty.
In an interview here yesterday, the administration officer in the office of the Binga District Administrator, Witness Kufa, said the farming inputs had been delivered at the right time.
He said the inputs were delivered to Lusulu and Binga depots and distribution to intended beneficiaries had also started in earnest.
Kufa said the distribution of cotton seed had also gone well. “We’ve received 5 tonnes of cotton seed, four tonnes of maize seed and 60 tonnes of Compound D fertilizer under the Presidential Farming Inputs Scheme,” said Kufa.
He said they were still to receive small grains such as millet and sorghum.
Kufa said generally Binga district had wards with different rainfall patterns.
As a result, they have since divided the district into areas for maize farming, cotton farming and small grains farming.
“Lusulu area is under region three which receives high rainfall. So we’re distributing more maize seed in that area. At the same time, we’re going to distribute small grains to areas along the Zambezi River which receive little rainfall,” he said.
Kufa said while the rains came late, they were optimistic of a bumper harvest as the government had also given them fertilizer.
“Once the farmers start planting and the crops germinate, there’s fertilizer which is now readily available. So we want to thank the government for this timely gesture aimed at improving the livelihood of people in this area,” he said.
Kufa said the Presidential Farming Input Scheme was a welcome development for the people who were used to receiving food aid from non-Governmental organisations.
He said there was a drought relief committee that had been tasked to make sure that all the wards in the district receive farming inputs on time.
Online Reporter