Agricultural Technical and Professional Staff Union of Zambia (ATPSUZ) has commended the government for conducting a smooth distribution of motorbikes for extension officers countrywide.

ATPSUZ General Secretary Jestone Ponde says almost all the extension offices in the ten provinces have confirmed receiving the motorbikes as their mode of transport meant to enhance agriculture service delivery to farmers.

Mr Ponde told ZANIS that so far 90 percent of procured motorbikes have been distributed in all the ten provinces.

He also encouraged farmers countrywide to always adhere to advice from extension officers on good farming practices.

Mr Ponde said looking at the rainfall pattern and that it is almost mid-December, ATPSUZ has advised farmers to ensure they plant early maturing maize in order to get a good harvest.

He stated that farmers should not be discouraged to plant their crops for fear of not having good rains but instead be patient and plant early maturing varieties and drought resistant crops.