Mufumbwe District Commissioner (DC) Elijah Munyompe has called on seed companies in the area to ensure that there is availability of seed to help farmers adequately prepare for this year’s farming season.

Mr Munyompe noted that most of the households that were affected by the drought experienced in the last farming season were those that planted late.

The DC was speaking when he graced this year’s district agricultural show under the theme ‘Creating a Competitive Future.’

Mr Munyompe said after a survey that was conducted, it was discovered that most of those whose crops did not do well in the last farming season were those that planted  late.

“Allow me to say this that seed companies make sure that you bring seed at the right time so that our farmers can prepare well in advance. Because when we took a survey, we discovered that most of those whose crops did not do well in the last farming season were those that planted very late,” he said.

He further said beneficiaries of farming inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) must sell their produce to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to avoid being left out in this years’ distribution.

“Farmers please sell your produce to FRA or else you will be removed from the list of those that should receive fertilizer and seed from government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mufumbwe Town Council Chairperson, Lemmy Masiye said farmers in the district should ensure that they venture in irrigation farming as this will bring about food security at household level as well as improve their socioeconomic status.

“Government’s intention is that you improve your livelihoods and that is why it has continued to support the agriculture sector and so ensure that you venture into irrigation farming which will help you with both food as well as money to improve your lives,” he advised.