Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
CSPR Communications Officer Maxson Nkhoma
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has observed that the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) has not helped in reducing poverty among beneficiary farmers.
The CSPR points out that poverty levels amongst small scale farmers remain very high at 59.1%, while they increased from 44.9% in 2006 to 48.2% at present among medium scale farmers.
CSPR Communications Officer Maxson Nkhoma says this says this shows that the farmer input support programme has not been used efficiently and effectively as a poverty reduction strategy which can help to address the growing disparity between rural and urban poverty.
He notes that if implemented efficiently and effectively, the programme can be a game changer and can help trigger rural development in the immediate and long term.
Mr. Nkhoma says CSPR is therefore of a considered view that the FISP should be depoliticized and be implemented according to the initial objectives of the programme.
And the organization has called on government to expedite the review process of the manner the FISP is being implemented.
Mr. Nkhoma tells QFM News via telephone that his organization has over the years received numerous complaints from the farming community across the country about the manner in which the FISP is being implemented.