FOOD AND CASH CROPS PRODUCTION UP BY 7.9 PERCENT IN MBINGA TOWN COUNCIL

Tarehe ya kuwekwa: October 24th, 2023

By Alex Nelson Malanga

Information Officer---MTC

Mbinga. Production of food and cash crops in Mbinga Town Council jumped by 7.9 percent in the 2022/23 season compared to the preceding season, thanks to the subsidized fertilizers.  

An Agriculture Officer from Mbinga Town Council, Mr. Andrew Chiwinga, on Tuesday, October 24 this year said production flew from 75,000 tonnes in 2021/22 season to 80,900 in 2022/23.  

“Fertilizer subsidy programme that was launched in 2022/23 came as a sigh of relief to farmers as they could stand a chance to access fertilizers at a lower cost and eventually increase agricultural productivity,” stressed Mr. Chiwinga.

With the subsidized fertilizers, a cost of a bag of DAP that used to be Sh131,675, went down to only Sh70,000, while that of UREA, which used to fetch Sh124,714, dwindled to Sh70,000.

Under the period of review (2022/23 season), Mr Chiwinga asserted, Mbinga Town Council bagged 15,613 tonnes of fertilizers, the amount which is higher compared to the target of 10,500 tonnes.  

He attributed the surpassing of the target during the period under reference to Mbinga Town Council being used as the fertilizers collection centre for Mbinga District (Rural) and Nyasa District.

For the 2023/24 season, demand for subsidized fertilizers is approximated to be 12,500 tonnes compared to the 2022/23’s 10,500 tonnes, thanks to the expected increase in a number of farmers registered with the Fertilizer subsidy programme.

During the last season, according to Mr Chiwinga, some 21,099 farmers were registered with the programme and given a special number that could enable them to buy subsidized fertilizers.

Mr. Chiwinga said the registration of new farmers is going on in all villages and wards of Mbinga Town Council.