By Isaac Zulu
Some agro-dealers engaged by the government in the distribution of farming inputs are exhibiting some inertia to redeem fertilizer and are demanding an increase in the price of the commodity.
And Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary Green Mbozi confirmed the development in an interview, saying the government sympathises with the agro-dealers but there is nothing that can be done immediately to address the issue.
Some agro-dealers talked to, said that they are demanding to increase the price of fertilizer owing to the continued depreciation of the Kwacha against major convertible currencies.
“From the time we entered into FISP contracts with the government to date, the Kwacha has been depreciating drastically. And that is why we are demanding that, in all fairness, we increase the price of the farming inputs,” said one agro-dealer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
And Mbozi said he sympathized with the agro-dealers.
“Yes, some of the agro-dealers, not all of them, have been demanding that they increase the price of the farming inputs due to the continued depreciation of the Kwacha. We sympathise with the agro-dealers,” Mbozi explained. “We understand that they are in business, they are not charitable organisations. They have to make a profit in order to stay in business and grow their businesses. We sympathise with them, but this is not something that can be addressed immediately. But that’s what business is all about. And if the Kwacha was appreciating, the agro-dealers would have been smiling.”
He disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture is in consultation with the Treasury over the matter, but could not give a definite answer on when the consultation process would be completed.
“We have since approached the Treasury. We are in consultation with the Treasury over the same issue. Unfortunately, this is not something that I can single handedly decide on. It is a long process, which involves a number of institutions. And I cannot confidently say that the consultation process would be completed within this farming season,” Mbozi said.
Mbozi said that the government values the pivotal role in the distribution of farming inputs to farmers across the country.
“We shall always remain indebted to our agro-dealers for the pivotal role that they continue playing in the distribution of farming inputs to our farmers across the country. While the government can provide policy direction on various issues, including agriculture, private involvement in the agriculture sector is critical,” said Mbozi. “They make a profit in order to stay in business and grow their businesses. We sympathise with them, but this is not something that can be addressed immediately. But that’s what business is all about. And if the Kwacha was appreciating, the agro-dealers would have been smiling.”
