OVER 10,500 farmers have collected their farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in Northern Province.
The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) reports that this came to light during a sensitisation meeting of agro-dealers and the Ministry of Agriculture district officers held in Kasama.
Northern Province senior marketing and development officer Chikobola Musaka said this is for the 2025/2026 farming season. He said this is out of the 58,000 farmers that have already made their K400 individual contributions through the Food Reserve Agency.
He said more farmers are expected to collect their inputs in new districts under the electronic voucher system that has allowed over 150 agro suppliers to take part in the programme.
“As Northern Province, we have a target of 98,315 farmers. Out of this number, we already have 58,500 whose contributions have already been deducted by FRA.
“So far, we have over 10,500 farmers who have already redeemed, but we are anticipating that this number should increase,” he said.
The Ministry of Agriculture is targeting November 30, 2025 for all beneficiary farmers to have farming inputs.
Meanwhile, Northern Province agriculture coordinator Derick Simukanze has urged agro dealers to allow top-ups on the K8,400 electronic voucher to enable farmers to collect other inputs.
He added that over 58,500 farmers whose contributions were deducted from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) have already collected their inputs in the province.
(ZNBC)