January 24, 2013
Zambia''s Nyiombo supplies 90% fertiliser
About 90% of fertiliser was delivered by Nyiombo Investments Limited throughout the country under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Company operations Manager Kwazi Dlamini said Tuesday (Jan 22) that his firm was committed to delivering the inputs in a record time. He, however, said Nyiombo was facing challenges in transporting the fertiliser due to fuel shortages and industrial unrest at the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which was contracted to deliver the inputs.
He said Tazara was supposed to haul 90,000 tonnes of fertiliser into Zambia but the company has only moved less than 11,000 tonnes between August and December 2012. Dlamini reiterated Nyiombo''s commitment to fulfilling its contractual obligations in executing a successive FISP for the eighth consecutive year.
Since December 2012 to date Nyiombo has managed to haul by road in excess of 13,000 tonnes of fertiliser through the Dar-es-Salaam corridor. The company has so far spent in excess of ZMW10 million (US$1.9 million) to meet its contractual obligations.
Dlamini assured the Government and the farmers that Nyiombo will deliver the balance of 11,160 tonnes of top dressing fertiliser throughout the nation to complete the programme successfully.
He said with the on-going road and rail operation in delivering the fertiliser, Nyiombo is scheduled to complete the programme in the first week of next month.