Swords into ploughshares

Following its initial hints that change was coming, government recently dealt them a shock to the system by revising the seasonal agricultural inputs programme known as ISPAAD or the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development.

Each season since its introduction in 2008, ISPAAD has provided farmers with various inputs such as seeds, tillage services, fertilisers, herbicides and others in the interests of increasing grain production and promoting food security at household and national level. The inputs are largely provided through grassroots level contractors and suppliers who sign up with the Ministry.