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
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 by October as stipulated in the FSP implementation manual. For the category of small-scale farmers who obtained less than eight bags, 15.2 percent of respondents indicated that they received basal fertiliser after October, while 4.8 percent of the respondents received basal fertiliser within the stipulated time (by October). For top dressing fertilisers, 19.2 percent of the respondents indicated that they received the commodity after the stipulated time, while 0.8 percent received the top dressing fertiliser within the official time. In each case ,1.6 percent of the respondents could not remember when they actually recieved the basal and top dressing fertilisers.Slightly above 78 percent (78.4 percent) are those who received basal and top dressing fertilisers belonged to the “Not Applicable Category”. For the category of small scale farmers who received all the eight bags of fertiliser, 54.8 percent indicated that they received basal fertiliser after October, while 4.0 percent received basal fertiliser within the official period. For top dressing fertiliser, a total of 56.8 percent received the commodity late, while 0.8 percent received the commodity in time. In addition to this, 8.0 percent of the respondents could not remember when they received the top dressing fertiliser. Slightly above 34 percent (34.4 percent) of the respondents belonged to the “Not Applicable Category”. Delivery of maize seed was also untimely during the same period. Above 57 percent (57.6 percent) of small-scale farmers received maize seed beyond the official time, while 8.0 percent received the seed on time. Less than 10 percent (9.6 percent) of the respondents could not remember when they actually received the 20kg bag of maize seed. Almost 25 percent (24.8 percent) belonged to the “Not Applicable Category”. In most cases, the supply of both basal and top dressing fertilisers was inadequate and/or fertilisers was delivered earlier than maize seed. The Study also identified challenges encountered in implementing the FSP Programme during the 2006/2007 farming season. Some of the challenges were: delayed input supply, receipt of fertiliser by small-scale farmers, poor crop marketing arrangements, and lack of funds by some small-scale farmers to meet the required contribution of 40 percent payment. Other challenges identified were non-usage of satellite depots, poor feeder road network, lack of Animal Draught Power (ADP), non practice of conservation farming/crop diversification and unpredictable government policies on maize and fertiliser marketing. These challenges affected production of maize and food security and consequently contributed to food insecurity in Chongwe district.
Agricultural Development Projects(FSP)--Zambia, Fertiliser Projects--Zambia
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