Headman Sinda of Sinda village in Chieftainess Nyanje of the Nsenga speaking people of Sinda district in Eastern province says the delay by the Food Reserve (FRA) to start buying maize prompted farmers to sell their maize to briefcase business men.
Headman Sinda said most famers in his village are so vulnerable and opted to sell their maize to briefcase businessmen due to the FRA’s failure to adhere to the proposed maize purchasing date.
The traditional ruler however said there is need for government to ensure that once the buying exercise stars funds are also set aside to enable the vulnerable famers to plan well for the upcoming farming season.
In an interview with ZANIS in Sinda over the weekend headman Sinda said the temptation by farmers to sell maize to the briefcase businessmen is also due to the many challenges their families are faced with.
Mr Sinda has also called on government to ensure that it sends the fertilizer and other famer inputs in good time for famers to plan in their farming activities.
ZANIS
Govt must stop giving fertilizers 2 farmers and let dem buy on deir own. Wen dey have grown deir maize dey can sale it wherever they wt nd at any price. Are dey not in business? Whoever wants ‘ukusheta nshima’ should tek care for dat on their own.
None of the farmers receive free fertilizer. The product has been subsidized (if that is what you mean by free). Kindly check your inform properly.
But way not buy maize from Eastern Province when this month you excited people in North- West province by paying them promptly. I am on record stating the fact that payment probably was done in a bad faith. i still hypothesize that early payment was done partly resolve BA64. In June DC Lundazi, tasked some GRZ personal to explain Farmers opted to look for maize market in Malawi.
You were on record been excited.
Why can’t FRA run independt of the GRZ with money not going in GOV accounts set it up like a business with a CEO then hold the CEO to task if he fails to deliver
thats not true, FRA, started buying maize on 20 th july, the eariest for the past 10 years, on 25 LT had reported that FRA had paid 80 billion to the farmers for the maize it had bought. give merit where it is due.