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Government has flagged off the joint inspection of farming inputs under the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) of the 2025/26 farming season, warning against fake inputs.
Speaking on Monday in Kafue at the flagging off event, NCZ Chief Executive Officer, Chanda Mongo, said the new facility would produce crop- and soil-specific fertilisers to meet the diverse needs of farmers across the country.
“This means that if one is a wheat farmer, we shall produce fertiliser that meets their needs. If they are tobacco farmers, we shall produce fertiliser that suits tobacco crops,” Mongo said.
Agencies involved in the exercise include the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
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Acting Permanent Secretary for Trade in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Angelina Mukuku, said the inspections were central to ensuring farmers receive safe, high-quality inputs.
“Today’s flag-off is not just symbolic. It marks the start of rigorous inspections nationwide to protect farmers and strengthen food security,” she said.
ZMA Executive Director, Humphrey Nkobeni, noted that last season’s inspections recorded a 95 percent compliance rate in fertiliser standards, which contributed to a bumper harvest.
ZCSA Executive Director, Gerald Chizinga, urged farmers to buy fertiliser and inputs only from recognised outlets to avoid counterfeits, stressing that suspicious products should be reported for enforcement action.
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