20, 000 ghost farmers removed from e- voucher system

Government has disclosed that about 20, 000 ‘ghost farmers’ have been removed from the list of electronic voucher system that was launched in October last year after thorough screening of beneficiaries.

Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda told parliament this afternoon that the beneficiaries of the e voucher pilot program were selected through their farmers groups to ensure that only deserving farmers access the farming inputs.

Given Lubinda

Mr. Lubinda says the treasury must be commended for releasing the required funds on time in order to finance the program.

Mr. Lubinda says government had planned to reach out 241, 000 farmers but that an additional 1, 683 farmers from Kabwe were added making the total beneficiaries of the e voucher system to 242, 683 farmers.

He says as at 18th February 2016, a total of 241, 041 cards were printed and distributed to farmers in the 13 districts out of the 242, 683 farmers.

And Mr. Lubinda says during the implementation of e voucher program, a lot of challenges have been uncounted such as late delivery of list to the ministry by those in – charge of coming up with such a list, network failure and load shedding making it difficult to transfer date.

He says despite facing these challenges, farmers have been able to access a wide range of farming inputs of their choice.