Friday, March 29, 2024

FRA owes farmers in Petauke K8.9 billion

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Petauke District Commisioner David Tembo says the food Reserve Agency (FRA) owes Petauke district farmers K8.9 billion.

Mr. Tembo disclosed this to ZANIS in an interview at his office today.

And two farmers found at the DC’s office to seek clarification on when the FRA will release the money, said they were disappointed at the manner in which the FRA handled the issue, accusing the FRA of corruption.

One of the farmers of Muliluzye corporative in chief Mumbi’s area, Saulosi Zulu, said he sold 29 bags of maize to FRA in July this year but up to now he has not been given the money.

Some of the farmers had sold as much as 500 bags of maize each in the same month but they have since not been paid.

They said such a poor system of payment hindered farmers from accessing farming inputs that was likely to cause serious hunger in the next harvest season.

When asked on the payments, the district commissioner said it was not clear as to when these farmers will get their money from the FRA.

But sources at the FRA said farmers will get their payments after the agency has sold part of the maize purchased from the farmers.

Mr. Tembo said farmers needed to exercise patience as government was doing everything possible to settle the payments.

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