Assessing the Feasibility of Implementing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) through an Electronic Voucher System in Zambia
Date
2012-04
Authors
Sitko, Nicholas J.
Bwalya, Richard
Kamwanga, Jolly
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute ( IAPRI)
Abstract
A number of problems plague the current Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), including: late delivery of inputs; distribution of standardized inputs that may not be appropriate for all agro-ecological zones or soil types; crowding out of private sector; poor targeting, and; high cost to the government treasury. The Government of Zambia has yet to pilot an e-voucher system for FISP due to concerns that the private sector in rural Zambia lacks the capacity to effectively provide farmers with inputs and that a failure of FISP would have negative consequences for national food security. Analysis of existing e-voucher systems in Zambia suggests that e-vouchers can be used to distribute FISP inputs to farmers, particularly in high potential agricultural regions. Moreover, the use of e-vouchers for FISP can effectively address many of the problems that plague the current distribution system.
Description
The article was written in collaboration with INESOR, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute and Agricultural Consultative Forum.
Keywords
FARMER INPUT SUPPORT PROGRAMME , Zambia , FISP , Agriculture , E-Voucher System , Research Subject Categories::HUMANITIES and RELIGION , Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS
Citation
Sitko,Nicholas J.,Bwalya,Richard. , Kamwanga, Jolly and Wamulume, Mukata (2012)Assessing the Feasibility of Implementing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) through an Electronic Voucher System in Zambia, IAPRI