The delay in distribution of farm inputs is a result of banks failing to distribute electronic voucher (e-voucher) cards to farmers, say Zambian Finance Minister Felix Mutati and his Agriculture counterpart Dora Siliya. The two ministers decried the performance of the last-mile enablers in the distribution of farmer inputs when…
Despite repeated assurances by government that administering its Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) on a complete electronic voucher (e-voucher) system would overcome problems that have plagued the delivery of farmer inputs, the massive logistical operation seems to be in disarray. This, as the end of the planting season fast approaches…
Zambian smallholder farmers, long plagued by delays in accessing farming inputs, are unlikely to see any change this planting season, an investigation by Africanfarming.com has revealed. According to the investigation, the roll-out of the revamped and complete electronic (e-voucher) system was beset by a myriad of problems, including lack of…
The Zambian government will extend its Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) electronic voucher (e-voucher) system to livestock and fish farmers, said Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya. Siliya assured crop farmers that all systems are in place to ensure farm inputs are delivered on time. “We need to increase support to fish and…
The electronic voucher (e-vouchers) system for the 2016/2017 farming seasons is mired in delays, because of a cash shortfall of K400 m. This according to Agriculture permanent secretary Julius Shawa, who appeared before parliament’s budget committee. Shawa said his ministry needed K1.04 bn to sufficiently fund the e-voucher payments. So…
After the first season of implementation, farmers in Zambia still experienced some hitches with the Farmer Input Service Progam (FIST) E-voucher system implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Farmers in the Copperbelt province called on the authorities responsible for the system to speed up the process, since delays might…
