The impact and the efficiency of the fertilizer support programme(FSP) on food security among small scale farmers in rural Zambia-A case study of Chongwe District
type: CreativeWork
description: Despite the implementation of the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP), there were indications of food insecurity continuing among small-scale farmers in rural Zambia during the 2006/2007 farming season. The FSP was introduced by the Zambian government in 2002 under the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The FSP is aimed at increasing the production of maize and enhancing sustainable food security amongst small-scale farmers by supplying fertiliser and maize seed at a subsidised price. Specifically, the study examined the extent to which the FSP had contributed to food security among households in Chongwe, the timeliness of delivery of inputs to beneficiaries; and identified the challenges faced in implementing the FSP. In order to accomplish this, a multi-stage sampling method was used to select 125 small- scale farmers from five agricultural cooperative societies in Chongwe district (i.e. Ikatishani, Nyangwena, Mabwe, Evergreen and Anti-Poverty). Purposive sampling was employed to select 15 key informants to include in the study. Key informants were drawn from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO) officials in the district, cooperative officials and village headmen. Small-scale farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from key informants. Qualitative data were analysed manually while quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software. The results presented in this Study show that the FSP contributed to a moderate improvement in food security during the 2006/2007 farming season in Chongwe district. Maize production, maize sales and income earned by small-scale farmers improved to a modest level during the same period. Further, the Study established that a large quantity of the inputs was delivered late, after October, during the FSP for 2006/2007 farming season in chongwe. Inputs were expected to be in Chongwe b…
abstract: Despite the implementation of the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP), there were indications of food insecurity continuing among small-scale farmers in rural Zambia during the 2006/2007 farming season. The FSP was introduced by the Zambian government in 2002 under the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The FSP is aimed at increasing the production of maize and enhancing sustainable food security amongst small-scale farmers by supplying fertiliser and maize seed at a subsidised price. Specifically, the study examined the extent to which the FSP had contributed to food security among households in Chongwe, the timeliness of delivery of inputs to beneficiaries; and identified the challenges faced in implementing the FSP. In order to accomplish this, a multi-stage sampling method was used to select 125 small- scale farmers from five agricultural cooperative societies in Chongwe district (i.e. Ikatishani, Nyangwena, Mabwe, Evergreen and Anti-Poverty). Purposive sampling was employed to select 15 key informants to include in the study. Key informants were drawn from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO) officials in the district, cooperative officials and village headmen. Small-scale farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from key informants. Qualitative data were analysed manually while quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software. The results presented in this Study show that the FSP contributed to a moderate improvement in food security during the 2006/2007 farming season in Chongwe district. Maize production, maize sales and income earned by small-scale farmers improved to a modest level during the same period. Further, the Study established that a large quantity of the inputs was delivered late, after October, during the FSP for 2006/2007 farming season in chongwe. Inputs were expected to be in Chongwe b…
author: Nyamfalila, Shadreck Matapa
language: en
keywords: Agricultural Development Projects(FSP)--Zambia, Fertiliser Projects--Zambia
date published: 2012-01-19
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:06:13Z
provider: University of Zambia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zambia