Agriculture Minister Urges Agro-Dealers to Uphold Integrity in 2025/26 FISP
Minister of Agriculture, Mr Reuben Mtolo, has called on agro-dealers to maintain professionalism, transparency, and integrity as the Government rolls out the 2025/2026 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) under a fully implemented 100 percent e-voucher system.
Speaking in Lusaka, Mr Mtolo highlighted that the shift to a fully private-sector-driven model offers significant opportunities for the agricultural industry but requires strict discipline to prevent malpractice.
“This particular endeavour is exceptionally good for you as businesspersons, but it also creates anxieties for us as government. We expect professionalism in every step of the process, because any malpractice such as discounting vouchers or fraudulent dealings will lead to the immediate termination of business relations,” he warned.
The Minister emphasised that agro-dealers must provide clear operational coverage to ensure equitable distribution of inputs across the country’s 10 provinces, 116 districts, and 156 constituencies. He added that the Ministry’s mandate extends beyond maize production to include all crops, livestock, aquaculture, and honey production.
Mr Mtolo noted that pricing and product quality would determine agro-dealers’ competitiveness under the FISP e-voucher system, with farmers expected to make choices based on affordability, reliability, and trust in brands.
Assuring dealers of timely payments, the Minister confirmed that all outstanding disbursements from the previous season had been cleared. Going forward, payments will be made fortnightly, enabling businesses to maintain smooth operations.
“I am happy to announce that all agro-dealers have been paid. We will no longer allow delays that spill into the next financial year. Submit your claims every two weeks and you will be paid every two weeks,” he said.
Mr Mtolo encouraged larger suppliers to establish formal contracts with smaller agro-dealers to prevent financial disputes, noting that the Ministry is ready to facilitate stop-order and escrow systems to protect bigger suppliers from potential losses.
He cautioned that the Government would revert to bulk purchases of fertiliser and seed if the private sector fails to meet expectations. “Please, colleagues, don’t force government to go back to bulk purchases. This is your chance to prove that the private sector can supply agricultural inputs just as it has done with sugar, salt, and milk,” he said.
The Minister further urged agro-dealers to diversify beyond crop inputs to include irrigation equipment, aquaculture supplies, and livestock products, aligning with Zambia’s broader goal of producing 10 million metric tonnes of maize, 1 million metric tonnes of soybeans, and 1 million metric tonnes of wheat annually by 2030, while expanding into livestock, fisheries, rice, and honey.
“The President has made it clear that we must move away from seasonal planting and embrace irrigation so that farmers can plant year-round. Agro-dealers should position themselves to support this transformation,” Mr Mtolo added.
