Input Integrity, National Prosperity

High-quality, regulated farming inputs ensure food security, promote fair trade, support economic growth, and safeguard the environment.

By Francis Maingaila 

Lusaka, Zambia24  - (1-09-2025) - The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, in partnership with the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), has launched joint inspections of farming inputs under the 2025/2026 Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

The flagging-off ceremony, which took place on 1st September 2025 at Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ), represents a pivotal step toward safeguarding national food security, promoting fair trade, fostering economic development, and protecting the environment.

Additionally, Angelina Mukuka, Acting Permanent Secretary reading on behalf of PS Lillian Bwalya, explained that the inspections are crucial to ensuring farmers receive fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals that are safe, properly labeled, effective, and environmentally responsible.

The inspections bring together ZMA, ZCSA, CCPC, ZARI, and the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI), combining their expertise to uphold agricultural standards.

The Acting PS highlighted that reported bumper harvests result from government policies emphasizing consistent support for farmers, strict quality enforcement, promotion of local input manufacturing, enhanced extension services, and strong public-private partnerships—all of which contribute to sustainable economic growth.

“The joint inspections mark the start of nationwide checks to ensure farmers receive legal, safe, and high-quality inputs,” she said.

She urged all stakeholders, particularly private sector partners, to fully comply with laws and standards, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to consumer protection, fair business practices, quality in agriculture, and environmentally sustainable farming.

ZCSA Executive Director Gerald Chizinga emphasized that the inspections protect farmers, strengthen the agricultural sector, and support national development while promoting accountability and transparency.

“This exercise demonstrates responsibility, transparency, and care for the farmer,” he said.

He added that properly measured and labeled fertilizers enable farmers to make informed decisions, achieve better yields, and minimize environmental risks.

Mr. Chizinga also commended field officers and technical experts from all participating institutions for their dedication and urged farmers to purchase inputs only from recognized, regulated, and reputable outlets.

“Choose brands traceable to registered manufacturers or importers. Report suspicious products to ZCSA, ZMA, ZARI, or CCPC,” he added.

Further, ZMA Executive Director Humphrey Nkobeni said the inspections reflect the government’s commitment to protecting farmers, fostering fair trade, and promoting sustainable economic and environmental outcomes.

According to Nkobeni, the national inspection task force—including CCPC, ZMA, ZCSA, ZARI, and SCCI—combines resources and technical expertise to enhance efficiency and accountability.

Nkobeni explained that ZMA ensures accurate measurements and labeling, ZCSA enforces standards to guarantee safe and environmentally responsible fertilizers, and CCPC protects farmers from unfair practices and pricing.

"Each of these agencies plays a different but complementary role," Nkobeni emphasized.

He elaborated that CCPC ensures safe, unexpired products and prevents deceptive practices, while ZCSA verifies that fertilizers and seeds meet national standards.

"ZMA checks weighing and measuring instruments to ensure inputs match declared weights and volumes," he noted.

He added that the harmonized team improves efficiency, ensures accountability, and shields farmers from substandard, expired, or environmentally harmful products.

Nkobeni reported that inspections during the 2024/2025 season achieved 95% fertilizer compliance and 97% seed compliance across provinces, contributing to the bumper harvest while supporting environmentally sustainable agriculture.

For the 2025/2026 season, inspections will cover all provinces, focusing on product quality, preventing the sale of fake or expired inputs, ensuring supplier accountability, and promoting environmental stewardship.

Nkobeni urged all stakeholders—including manufacturers, distributors, farmers, law enforcement, and the media—to collaborate.

“Suppliers must maintain transparency, farmers should report suspicious products, and the media should educate the public,” he said.

For Nkobeni, this initiative underscores a unified commitment by regulatory institutions to protect farmers, uphold agricultural standards, foster fair business practices, and ensure that Zambia’s farming inputs remain genuine, effective, safe, and environmentally responsible.

Speaking earlier, Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) Executive Director Chanda Mongo announced commissioning of a new blending and granulating plant with an annual capacity of 432,000 metric tonnes, designed to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen national food security.

Mongo said during the farm input flag-off inspection at the company’s Kafue plant that the facility will produce crop- and soil-specific fertilizers to meet the diverse needs of farmers across the country.

“The blending plant will ensure that a wheat farmer receives fertilizer suited for wheat, a tobacco farmer for tobacco, while also balancing nutrients in regions with soil deficiencies,” Mongo said.

Commissioned in 1970, NCZ has grown into Zambia’s leading fertilizer and industrial chemicals producer. 

Mongo assured farmers that the new facility will maintain strict quality standards in line with the Zambia Metrology Agency (ZMA), the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

“Our commitment is to deliver uncompromising quality that meets the needs of farmers across the country,” he said.

Mongo also commended the role of the media in highlighting NCZ’s progress and pledged the company’s continued dedication to supporting national food security.