Over 300 small scale farmers in Kapiri Mposhi district have threatened to camp at the District Commissioners (DC) office if they are not paid the money for the maize they sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
The farmers who thronged the DCs office as early as 06:00 hours today have also demanded that the government gives them back their bags of maize which they supplied to the FRA.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Damiano Haaninga complained that it was too much of government issuing promissory statements to farmers on a daily basis.
Mr. Haaninga stated that the payments to farmers have been deferred on several occasions despite government emphasizing that it had released the money to pay all of them before 20th November 2012.
The farmers have been frequenting both ZANACO and Barclays Banks for some time now but have been finding that there is no money in the Banks as both Banks have run out of money meant for paying the farmers.
“But what is this of government releasing money and then we are not paid because there is no money in the bank is the government lying to us’’ he said.
Mr. Haaninga said the farmers are in desperate need of their money because they want to procure inputs for the coming farming season stating that delayed payments will negatively affect the crop yield for the 2012/2013 farming season.
“It is very unfortunate that this is happening when we are in dire need of money to prepare for next season… they need to tell us the truth so that we look elsewhere,” Mr. Haaninga said.
Mr. Haaninga said the farmers are owed between K40 Million and K3 million each for the maize they supplied to the FRA.
But District Commissioner Beatrice Sikazwe has appealed to the farmers to remain patient as they wait to be paid their money.
Ms. Sikazwe who apologized for the delay in payments said the government will soon remit the remaining money to pay all the farmers in the district.
Government has so far paid out over K22, 8 billion to farmers who sold maize to the FRA in Kapiri Mposhi district leaving the balance of at least K14, 4 billion to fully pay the farmers in the area.
The FRA collected 572,094 by 50Kg bags of white maize from farmers in the district worth slightly over K37 billion.
ZANIS
THE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY EVERYONE HAS GONE TO SLEEP.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH,THE OASIS FORUM,THE POST AND ALL PEOPLE ARE BENEFICAILLY OF THIS PF GOVERMENT AND NO ONE IS NOW SPEAKING FOR THE POOR.
IN KAPIRI YOU VOTED FOR PF.PF IS NOW AT WORK.DONT COMPLAIN CHANDA CHIMBA TOLD YOU.
RB STARTED PAYING FARMERS IN JUNE AND FERTILZER WAS DISTRIBUTED FROM SEMPTEMBER.SHAME ON ZAMBIANS.
FOR COPPERBELT LINING UP FOR MEAL MEAL I ONLY HOPE IT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 4 MONTHS,MIND YOU LOOK AT THIS YEARS RAINS,GOD IS NOT HAPPY.
BACK TO YELLOW MAIZE.
PF AT WORK AND THIS IS THE BEST MARKETING SEASON SINCE INDEPENDENCE.
Please mwe Buteko, do not torment these hardworking farmers, pay them on time. I understand how frustrating it is to deal with government departments with their slow lethargic approach to anything that looks like lots of work. But this is uncalled for and inexcusable.
Mealie Meal shortage hits Copperbelt Province. This is the latest.
So the bumber harvest claimed by PF. where is it. Sold to raise money for By Elections or what?
Zambia too expensive a country what will the Citizens eat NOW. The altenative is very expensive.
PF first order of business in the Agriculture sector was to order the export of 1 million tonnes of Maize. Now it is going to bite them in their butts. PF has messed up the Agricultural sector. Honestly farmers should have been paid for their produce. But these PF morons have misplaced priorities. Very soon they are going to spend K 100 billion on stu.pid by elections. The country deserves better!
each time i used to read smaller articles or reviews which also clear their motive, and that is also happening with this article which I am reading here.|