By JAMES KUNDA –

THE Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) in Kafue has produced 16,000 tonnes of compound-D fertiliser ahead of the 2015-2016 farming season.
Meanwhile, 10,000 tonnes of the commodity has since been dispatched to the ten provinces, according to Agriculture and Livestock Permanent Secretary David Shamulenge.
Dr Shamulenge said yesterday that the Government had contracted NCZ to produce 106,000 tonnes of compound-D for the forthcoming crop season.
The fertiliser is being distributed under the Farmer input Support Programme (FISP).
“Since the flagging off of the input production and distribution exercise in April, NCZ has produced 16,000 tonnes of compound D out of a requirement of 106,000 tonnes.
“Of this, 10,000 tonnes has been dispatched and we are confident that the process will be concluded within the stipulated period,” he said.
Dr Shamulenge said high rainfall areas were targeted to receive the commodity earlier to avert challenges of late planting.
He said a tendering procedure was also underway for the delivery of Urea for which the national requirement was as much as that for compound D.
“We have also begun the tendering process for the delivery of seed and about one million farmers are expected to benefit from this year’s FISP,” he said.
Mr Shamulenge said Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda would soon make pronouncements on the FISP including the application of the e-voucher system.