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{
    "id": 363193,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/363193/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 143,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The issue of fertilizer is very important. We know that fertilizer is a key farming input for sustainable agriculture and the challenge that we are facing is mainly on the distribution. Accessibility of fertilizer is an issue and as a result of that, the yields are affected, the farmers become more impoverished and we know that increased use of fertilizer is a contributor to good produce and eventually helps eliminate importation. So, I support this Motion and I second it because there is need to come up with a board to manage the issue of fertilizer. If we look at farmers themselves, we know that the policy on fertilizer in this country is that the Government targets the smallholder farmers. Those smallholder farmers can only get subsidized fertilizer if they access it from the NCPB. If we look at farmers, they face so many challenges. One of the challenges is that some of them do not even understand how to use it. They do not have the knowledge and skills to use the fertilizers and it is important that those farmers are capacitated. There is also the issue of poverty. As much as fertilizer is subsidized, most of them cannot afford to purchase the fertilizer and so this issue needs to be addressed. The farmers need to be sensitized so that they can understand that there are other possible externalities that come with increased use of fertilizer, especially the reduction of soil erosion which results from increased plant growth."
}