THE World Bank has recommended that government must reform the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to free up fiscal space for productive investments and to support diversification efforts. The bank argues that supporting maize production through FISP and the FRA is the least socially efficient option for Zambia. And the World Bank observes that Zambia’s debt resolution and ongoing reforms are expected to support macroeconomic stability and reignite private-sector investment in the country. In its June report on Zambia titled “Country Economic Memorandum (CEM)”, the World Bank stated that redirecting public spending from FISP and FRA to support productive investments in infrastructure, capacity building, innovation and climate change adaptation was vital to reduce poverty...