Government has reiterated its commitment to pay all farmers in Namwala district who sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) during the 2006/2007 farming season an outstanding amount of K1.8 billion.
The assurances come in the wake of farmers who have voiced their disappointment over the non payment of their money for close to four months.
Namwala District Commissioner Ms Eunice Nawa today told some farmers who besieged her office that government was doing everything possible to pay all the farmers as soon as possible.
“Government is fully aware of the matter and you would probably be paid before the end of this month,” Ms Nawa told the farmers.
But some farmers pointed out that they have failed to plant anything as they were waiting for money from FRA to enable them buy farm inputs such as fertilizer and seed.
Mr. Cornwell Simenda who sold about 150 by 50 kg bags to FRA in August last year said government would have done the best for farmers by deducting from their money in order for farmers to buy farming inputs.
And another farmer, Ms Pricilla Simenda, said farmers have failed to send their children to school as a result of the delay by FRA to pay farmers their dues.
“We wonder if government would allow our children to attend school without paying since it (government) owes us money ,” complained Ms Simenda, a mother of six.
The FRA bought 190,441 by 50 kg bags of maize during the 2006/2007 marketing season in the entire district.
Meanwhile, an officer from the department of agriculture who refused to disclose his name allege that there was some malpractices in the purchasing of maize at Namwala depot.
The officer claimed that some genuine farmers sold maize on behalf of traders who in turn gave them some money for doing them a favour.
“Some of these same farmers who are complaining conspired with traders to sale maize to FRA and it was difficult for us to catch the culprits ,” said the officer in an interview with ZANIS.
We are sick and tired of this “we are committed” line. This is january when farmers are applying compound D and yet others have not been paid. According to Nawa payment might be at the end of the month so when are these people expected to do the planting, mid february and harvest in april??? Commitment indeed!!!
This is really sad. How are these farmers whose sources of livelihood depend on farming going to sustain their livelihood? They have not planted enough for their food as well as for their financial needs. So so so sorry. And yet some people out there just for debating are being paid K46m/month. And yet a farmer who toils 365 days of a year just to help put food in the national basket is left unpaid for just that ka-small FIVE MILLION KWACHA. Don’t we have remorse? Personally am disturbed by this
stop lying to poor farmers.Am getting bored