Late distribution of coupons will affect farmers – CCJP

Advertisement
Martin Chiphwanya

The Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice (CCJP) says the delay in distributing coupons under the Farm Input Subsidy Programme in the country will affect farmers.

This is coming after Minister of Agriculture and Water Development George Chaponda told Parliament on Monday that the coupons will arrive in the country on Tuesday next week.

However, last week Chaponda told the media that the coupons were expected to arrive last weekend and distribution was set to begin on Monday this week.

Martin Chiphwanya
Chiphwanya: We are worried.

CCJP national secretary Martin Chiphwanya said the delay will have an impact as the distribution may take time.

“The delay to distribute the coupons will have an impact as the process may take time and the rainy season has already started,” said Chiphwanya.

He added that there was a need to do the process in time in order not to allow any hiccups affecting the process.

Chiphwanya further said that in future these kinds of situations must be avoided in order to let farmers use inputs in time.

However this is not the first time government has delayed to distribute coupons as this also happened last year.

Advertisement