Forex Challenge Affecting Importation of Pesticides and Storage Facilities

Forex shortage has forced the Ministry of Agriculture to encourage farmers to use the sacks that protect crops from pests as government is exploring ways to improve the availability currently hampering suppliers from importing pesticides and storage facilities.

This comes as farmers have started harvesting maize in the southern region.

The responsible minister, Sam Kawale told Zodiak Online Monday that as the country waits for the forex situation to improve, farmers are encouraged to use the sacks that protect crops from pests.

Kawale said as it stands, the use of sacks to store maize is a most effective way.

An agriculture expert, Ronald Chilumpha worried that supliers are struggling to import the pesticides and storage facilities which they in turn sell at the exorbitant prices that smallholder farmers can not afford.

Chilumpha fears the situation would likely contribute to more post harvest loses and food insecurity. 

Currently, post harvest loss is estimated at over 400,000 metric tons annually, due to poor storage by smallholder farmers.

There are also fears of a reduced crop output following challenges that marred last fiscal year's Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) and cyclone Freddy which has washed away some crops in the South.

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