The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Eastern province owes farmers and institutions a total sum of KR2,500,000 for the maize sold to the agency during the 2012/2013 crop purchasing season.
Provincial Agricultural Coordinator in the Ministry of Agricultural and Livestock Obvious Kabinda disclosed this to ZANIS in Chipata today.
Dr Kabinda said out of the total sum KR678, 105 owed to famers and KR1, 733,615 was owed to different institutions who sold maize to FRA.
He said the institutions owed were the Zambia Prisons Services and Zambia National Service in the districts of Katete, Nyimba, Lundazi, Petauke, and Chadiza respectively.
Dr Kabinda however said the ministry of agriculture would settle all the arrears owed to famers and institutions who sold maize to FRA before the end of the week.
Dr Kabinda has also expressed disappointment with companies supplying farming inputs to farmers for unnecessary closures.
He said the closure of Omnia which closed three times and the closure of the sheds for Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia in Chipata district by the landlords had delayed the distribution exercise of farming inputs in the province.
Owners of the sheds used by Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia closed the sheds on 11th January, 2013 up to date due to unsettled rentals by government.
He said the ministry of agriculture in the province has managed to distribute 99.9 percent of farming inputs to farmers.
Dr Kabinda has also confirmed the infestation of army worms in Lundazi district which attacked four camps in Mwase farming Block.
He said the affected blocks were Mwase 1, Mwase 2, Kapichila, and Phikamalaza but the situation has been controlled and no crops have been affected with the worms.
Dr Kabinda said the province is now free from army worms as the affected areas were controlled in time.
ZANIS
we told you to vote wisely..but Mangani and his friends cheated you..see now what you are going through..!!
After Mangani cheated the Eastrners, Ka Mpezeni went and finished him off to SATA.
Lelo achimwene mukufa nanjala…..
U voted for PF see what has happened now? tinamiuzyani… pela pepani abale fyakuiletela lwenu.
Nzedi a Mpangula. Koma afunika kudziwa kuti lonjezo ana dulitsa mutu Johani. Apatse anthu ndalama zawo.
You entrusted the affairs of the country into the hands of the Muchinga mafia! There’s been no time in the history of Zambia that agriculture prospered when the Presidency was occupied by someone born in that neck of the forest on the other side. Blame it on both nature and nurture!
This is very disappointing and shameful. How can a normal Govt allow such a situation when we have kongolard the EURO Bond and moreover the previous guys left some cool cash in the reserves but up to now our institutions and individual farmers are still languishing in poverty?
Surely Zambia is in trouble with these paya farmer fools.
Any way we have ourselves to blame for experimenting national Leadership.
Nachita ku dabwa ine sure.
Fyakuifwaila, ebo mwalevotela kabili!! Next time learn to use your brains when voting!
Show some seriousness, kill Mangani as a first step.