THE Committee on Expanded Planning and Budgeting has recommended that the government consider repositioning the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) as a standalone intervention under the Ministry of Finance and National Planning. Committee Chairperson Fred Chaatila says over 70 per cent of the agriculture budget continues to be absorbed by FISP and the Food Reserve Agency, leaving limited fiscal space for research, extension, and mechanisation. Speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Chaatila, who is also Moomba MP, said the continued dominance of maize in the allocation of public resources undermined the policy objectives of crop diversification. “The committee appreciates that the government continues to prioritise food security and diversification. However, the committee observes that the continued dominance of maize...