A senior Government official in Mazabuka, Southern Province has called on the Food Reserve agency (FRA) to quickly source for funds to pay off farmers their K 1.3 billion.
Mazabuka District Commissioner, Misheck Chiinda told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that 200 farmers have not yet been paid by FRA because the K 1.5 billion sent to the district recently was only exhausted within two days.
Mr Chiinda said there is need for FRA to take the appeal seriously because most farmers are relying on the same funds to buy seed and fertiliser to grow maize.
He said it is unfair to punish farmers especially at this time when most of them have relocated their homes to town just to wait for their money.
Meanwhile, FRA Mazabuka Warehouse manager Obrien Han’gandu has gone into hiding for fear of being lynched by angry farmers.
Mr Han’gandu told ZANIS in Mazabuka that he has decided to go into hiding because farmers are threatening him.
He said farmers strongly believe he has stolen their money because he is the one who has been authorising their payment from the bank.
Mr Han’gandu has since pleaded with the farmers to remain calm because their money has not yet been sent by FRA.
Mazabuka district has bought a total of 331,580 at a cost of K 12 billion.
In a related development, The National Association for Peasant and Small Scale farmers in Mazabuka has disbursed a total of K 140 million loans to farmers in five cooperative societies whose fertiliser and seed is still locked up by Omnia Zambia limited.
Association Coordinator, Ricky Sinyamuki who disclosed this to ZANIS in Mazabuka said his association came to the rescue of the farmers because of loss of time caused by the suspension of the Fertiliser Support Programme.
He said the farmers from Chibuyu,Chinyanja, Manyonyo, Mugoto and Chakola have since purchased fertiliser and Seed from Omnia.
Mr Sinyamuki said most farmers who accessed loans had to sell their animals at give away prices just to raise the 50 percent collateral before the loans could be approved.
He said the farmers association is working in partnership with the Zambia National Commercial Bank and Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) in the provision of loans to farmers.
Mr Sinyamuki explained that ZSIC is providing insurance cover to the farmers in case of drought, floods and other climatic conditions that would affect agriculture production in their respective areas.
He added that three other cooperatives have already submitted their applications for loans.
Mr Sinyamuki also challenged farmers who are not aware of the loan facilities to take advantage of the loans and boost their agriculture activities.
Meanwhile, Mr Sinyamuki has assured the farmers that his association will not engage in the seizure of property should they fail to repay the loans.
