Govt saves 480 million kwacha from ghost Farmers under FISP

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Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa says the Ministry of Finance has released K1.149 billion to be loaded on electronic voucher cards to enable farmers in 39 districts access inputs under the electronic voucher (E-voucher) system.

Mr. Shawa says out of the K1.2 billion about K989 million has been availed to the six banks and two financial institutes it has engaged as agents in the E-voucher programme.

The six banks are Zanaco, BancABC now rebranded as Atlas Mara, United Bank of Africa, Barclays, INDO Zambia Bank and Eco bank Zambia.

Mr. Shawa says government has also engaged non- financial institutions such as Mobile payment solutions (MPS) which were allocated 39, 366 farmers while Pay code a non-financial institution was allocated 197, 045 farmers.

And Mr. Shawa says government has saved up to 480 million kwacha from 300, 000 ghost Farmers under the Farmer Input Support Program.


He has disclosed that some Members of Parliament and District Commissioners have been calling him claiming that they are farmers.




Smart Zambia Institute National Coordinator Permanent Secretary Dr. Martine Mtonga has disclosed that about 700, 000 farmers have started receiving inputs under E-voucher, representing 71.4 per cent of the 1 million farmers that are targeted to benefit in the 2017/18 farming season.

Dr. Mtonga says about 924, 000 farmers have so far been registered for the E-Voucher while about 659, 868 farmers deposited their 400 kwacha each.

Speaking at a joint media briefing in Lusaka, Dr. Mtonga says government has extended the deadline for receiving the 400 kwacha to 19th January 2018 that will see government supporting 86 percent of all the farmers that applied for E-voucher.

He explains about 575, 617 farmers have so far redeemed their cards after paying the required K400.
And Dr. Mtonga has further revealed that about 300, 000 farmers did not deposit.

Meanwhile Dr. Mtonga says government disbursed a total amount of 215 million kwacha to Atlas Mara, 252. 1 million kwacha to ZANACO Bank, INDO Bank K70.1 million, Eco bank K61 million Barclays Bank K94.46 million, and UBA Bank K175. 3 million to distribute electronic voucher (e-voucher) cards to farmers.

E-voucher update as at 15th January 2018. (SMART ZAMBIA UPDATE)

Bank ABC/Finance Bank (Atlas Mara)
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 247,000
142,761 Farmers that responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing : 58%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K215million

Exceptions
NRC exceptions (Names, errors, mismatch) = 18,589
19 Locations covered
1.       Mumbwa
2.       Kabwe
3.       Ndola
4.       Zimba
5.       Mufulira
6.       Pemba
7.       Kalomo
8.       Chipata
9.       Monze
10.   Choma
11.   Chibombo
12.   Chongwe
13.   Mpulungu
14.   Mpika
15.   Chisamba
16.   Kapiri
17.   Mazabuka
18.   Lavushi Manda
19.   Kanchibiya





ZANACO
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 210,000
157, 305 Farmers responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing: 75%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K252.1million
Exceptions
13,000 farmers lost PIN numbers in this bank and the bank has BEEN re-setting their PIN numbers
17 Locations covered
1.       Chadiza
2.       Katete
3.       Kawambwa
4.       Chama
5.       Mansa
6.       Kasama
7.       Chinsali
8.       Sinazongwe
9.       Siavonga
10.   Monze
11.   Kabwe
12.   Samfya
13.   Nakonde
14.   Mongu
15.   Limulunga
16.   Itezhi Tezhi
17.   Kapiri
INDO Zambia Bank
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 30,315
26,429 Farmers responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing : 87%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K70.1million
Exceptions
567 farmers with wrong NRC numbers
854 farmers not valid farmers due to wrong deposits
3 Locations covered
1.       Nyimba
2.       Mkushi
3.       Livingstone
ECO Bank
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 64,700
44,824 Farmers responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing : 69%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K61million
Exceptions
Few NRC mismatch
6 Locations covered
1.       Chilanga
2.       Chingola
3.       Kafue
4.       Kaoma
5.       Kitwe
6.       Masaiti

Barclays Bank
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 86,394
56,059 Farmers responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing : 65%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K94.46million
Exceptions
farmers with wrong NRC numbers
Bank delayed in releasing cards to farmers
Bank mis-posting cards to wrong districts
10     Locations covered
1.       Chililabombwe
2.       Chisamba
3.       Kalulushi
4.       Kalumbila
5.       Luanshya
6.       Lundazi
7.       Mushindano
8.       Mwinilunga
9.       Rufunsa
10.   Solwezi

UBA Bank
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 125,472
60,079 Farmers responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing : 48%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K175.3million
Exceptions
Too many wrong NRCs in most districts (Multiple NRC presentation)
17 Locations covered
1.       Chongwe
2.       Mumbwa
3.       Chibombo
4.       Chikankata
5.       Monze
6.       Kalomo
7.       Pemba
8.       Kabwe
9.       Kapiri
10.   Mazabuka
11.   Petauke
12.   Lusaka
13.   Isoka
14.   Serenje
15.   Gwembe
16.   Kazungula
17.   Namwala

Mobile Payment Solutions (MPS) – NON- FINANCIAL INSTITUTION – offline solutions
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 39,366
27,411 Farmers responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing : 70%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K38million
Exceptions
Most rural areas, terrain difficult
Very few agro-dealers to redeem in the areas, long distance
NO Issues with NRCs as it biometric capturing
Low agriculture areas
19 Locations covered
1.       Chirundu
2.       Kalabo
3.       Luampa
4.       Luangwa
5.       Lukulu
6.       Mambwe
7.       Mitete
8.       Mulobezi
9.       Mwandi
10.   Mwansabombwe
11.   Nalolo
12.   Nchelenge
13.   Nkeyema
14.   Senanga
15.   Sesheke
16.   Shangombo
17.   Shibuyunji
18.   Sikongo
19.   Sioma

PAYCODE – NON- FINANCIAL INSTITUTION – offline solutions
Farmers allocated by GRZ = 197,045
145,000 Farmers responded and Deposited K400.00 and GRZ funding of K1600.00
Representing : 74%
Government Funds disbursed to bank todate K175.3million
Exceptions
Most rural areas, terrain difficult
Good system on Capturing farmers offline and BIOMETRICS
Installed its own satellite to cover Zero Connectivity areas
Went deep in rural areas capturing farmers
NO Issues with NRCs as it biometric capturing
 30 Locations covered
1.       Chitambo
2.       Luano
3.       Ngabwe
4.       Lufwanyama
5.       Mpongwe
6.       Sinda
7.       Vubwi
8.       Chembe
9.       Chienge
10.   Chipili
11.   Lunga
12.   Milenge
13.   Mwense
14.   Mafinga
15.   Shiwangandu
16.   Chilubi
17.   Kaputa
18.   Lunte
19.   Luwingu
20.   Mbala
21.   Mporokoso
22.   Nsama
23.   Senga Hill
24.   Chavuma
25.   Ikelenge
26.   Kabompo
27.   Kasempa
28.   Manyinga
29.   Mufumbwe
30.   Zambezi
NATIONAL OUTLOOK AS AT 11 JANUARY 2018

FARMERS REGISTERED IN SYSTEM                                                            =             924,000
FARMERS CAME FORWARD AND DEPOSITED K400.00 EACH          =             714,868
REPRESENTING 71.4% OF REGISTERED OF THE CAPTURED FARMERS
OUT OF ALL THE FARMERS THAT RESPONDED, GRZ HAS SUPPORTED UPTO 87%
And 575,617 FARMERS HAVE SO FAR REDEEMED VARIOUS INPUTS WHICH REPRESENTS 81%
WE EXPECT BY THIS FRIDAY 19TH JANUARY 2018 WHEN THE SEASON CLOSES GOVERNMENT TO HAVE SUPPORTED AROUND 87% of all the farmers that THAT APPLIED FOR E-VOUCHER. THESE ARE THE FARMERS THAT RESPONDED BY DEPOSITING THEIR CONTRIBUTION OF K400.00 AND MORE FARMERS HAVE CONTINUED TO DEPOSIT.


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