33 farmers out of 120 who applied for the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) for the 2024/2025 farming season in Solwezi District have received their farming inputs.

Solwezi District Agricultural Coordinator Mutinta Zulu says the 33 applied for inputs to help them grow maize.

“Government prioritised the growing of maize this season and 33 farmers that applied have already received the inputs,” Mrs Zulu.

Mrs Zulu confirmed that the farmers received inputs of different amounts depending on what they applied for.

She disclosed that the highest farmer got inputs amounting to K500,000.

Mrs Zulu explained that farmers in other categories such as livestock had not yet received the inputs adding that the department was still waiting for further instructions from the government.

Meanwhile, Mrs Zulu has expressed concern over some farmers that have only partially redeemed their inputs under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) for the 2024/2025 farming season adding that there was need for them to redeem fully.

She added that all farmers had redeemed important inputs needed for them to grow their crops except for some who have remained with small amounts.

“All Farmers have redeemed important inputs such as fertilizer and seed, except some are remaining with small amounts like K10 or K2 and those are the ones we want to come and redeem fully,” Mrs Zulu said.