GOVERNMENT says only 22 Small-Scale farmers in Luwingu District in Northern Province  have so far been funded under the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) for the 2024/25 farming season.

Luwingu District Commissioner Chomba Chileshe said this is out of the 343 farmers who applied for SAFF loans in the district.

Mr Chileshe said 122 farmers have partially redeemed their inputs while another 44 farmers have been issued with codes to enable them start receiving their farming inputs.

In a statement obtained by the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Luwingu district today, Mr Chileshe said farmers who have so far received their loans got the loans in the range of K24,000 and K120,000 kwacha.

He has since appealed to beneficiaries to put the farm inputs to good use so as to ensure they pay back the loan within the stipulated time.

“This will also allow other farmers to benefit from the programme thereby increasing food security in the area,” he said.

Luwingu is one of the districts in the province receiving good rainfall and farmers should take advantage of this to grow more crops.

The District Commissioner has advised small-scale farmers not to worry about the slow pace of SAFF loans saying the government is doing everything possible to ensure the facility is given to them.