The number of beneficiaries on the Food Security Pack (FSP) under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has been increased from 36,300 in the 2020/21 farming season to 263,700 in 2021/22. This increase has translated in provinces recording increased caseloads. For example, in Eastern Province, beneficiaries have increased to 39,200 in the 2021-2022 farming season from 4,700 in the 2020-2021 farming season.

Provincial Community Development Officer Gift Makungu says 39,200 households have benefited covering all the 14 districts in Eastern Province.

Mr. Makungu says 1,949 beneficiaries graduated from FSP in the province during 2020-2021 farming season.

Mr. Makungu said that the programme is proving to be helpful in alleviating poverty among the vulnerable but viable farming communities in the region.

To ensure the credibility of the programme, Mr Makungu said the ministry has put in place measures to avoid a situation where the same beneficiaries receive inputs from both FSP and the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).