Lusaka, 14th September 2024 –The Zambia Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (ZIAMIS), deployed by the Electronic Government Division (SMART Zambia Institute), has revolutionized agricultural service delivery, ushering in a new era of efficiency and effectiveness. By providing a centralized platform for farmer registration, agro-dealer data management, and service delivery, ZIAMIS has enabled the Ministry of Agriculture to reach more farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) with targeted support and advisory services. The system’s real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities have also improved decision-making and response times, allowing for quicker interventions in times of need.

Speaking during an interview, the Director of ICT, Mr. James Kalengo, explained how ZIAMIS has enhanced the accuracy and credibility of the assessment of agro-dealers. This year, the ministry has managed to accredit 779 agro-dealers, with a minimum of seven in each district countrywide. Mr. Kalengo also revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a verification and scrutiny of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) database, resulting in over 650,000 farmers being omitted.

Mr. Kalengo further explained that farmers who have been omitted from the FISP register can visit the nearest Ministry of Agriculture office in their district to present their particulars. He announced that farming inputs are readily available in all districts and that FISP farmers can redeem them starting from Monday, 16th September 2024. Mr. Kalengo confirmed that farming inputs are available at agro-dealers and cautioned farmers not to share their PIN number with anyone, advising them to only redeem their e-voucher after verifying the stocks in the shop. He also encouraged FISP farmers to deal exclusively with ZIAMIS-accredited agro-dealers with proper branding.

The implementation of ZIAMIS has significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ministry of Agriculture’s service delivery, particularly in the accreditation of agro-dealers and the management of the FISP program. The system’s ability to verify and scrutinize farmer data has helped to eliminate bogus farmers, ensuring that genuine farmers receive the necessary support. As the Ministry of Agriculture continues to leverage ZIAMIS, it is expected that agricultural productivity and food security in Zambia will continue to improve, ultimately benefiting the livelihoods of farmers and the nation as a whole.

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