ZNFU Press Release
Late Farmer payments and fertiliser distribution
The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) is in utter awe that while other sectors of the economy are generously receiving their monetary increases and payments promptly, farmers are not getting paid on time for the crop supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
It is shocking that after getting assurances that farmers would be receiving their payments as punctually as 10 to 14 days after delivering their crop during this marketing season, the same old ugly scenario of making farmers wait infinitely for their payments has started to rear it head again. Some farmers that supplied their maize to the FRA in July are yet to receive their payments. This is short of what we envisaged when the 2012/2013 marketing season was opened amid a high set of promises.
Something is evidently awry. And before it degenerates any further, the ZNFU is calling on the FRA not to forget easily the pledge it has made to farmers of an expeditious payment system. Farmers expect nothing less of this as most of their activities are time –tied. Farmers only have three months during which time to procure inputs (seed and fertilizers), plant and apply them. Delays in paying farmers could result in failure to procure inputs and other agro-needs. Missing the three months window could spell disaster not only to farmers, but to the country’s food security position as well.
This country is still smarting from the 11% reduction in maize production for the 2012/2013 season. We fear that such delayed payment overtures could be a cue to undoing the growth of the agriculture sector that we have worked hard for to prop up. It may well result in a further reduction in crop production and hamper agriculture growth.
To avert this looming situation, the ZNFU is calling on the FRA to quickly pay all the farmers from whom they have collected crop. We also call upon the Agency to live by its word and stop pretending to be oblivious to the effects of delayed payments to farmers.
In the same breath, farmers on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) are still waiting for the delivery of D Compound and Urea fertilizers. While we commend the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) for producing over 50, 000 metric tonnes of D Compound fertilizers, we are aware of numerous farming areas that yet to receive a grain of this fertilizer, later on Urea. With the rainy season quickly closing in, we are fearful that we as a country might get caught up yet again and fail to deliver all inputs as earlier promised before the onset of the rains.
We need not remind anyone that some of our farmers only received Urea or top dressing fertilizers as late as February for the 2012/2013 agriculture season. For what use is this fertilizer if it is delivered after the application and maturity period? Delayed fertilizer distribution is clearly a threat to the growth of this sector.
For our agriculture sector to be on sound footing and post production quantities that will feed the region and Africa as a food basket, we need to re-work and critically think through our deliverables’ timeliness. We ask both the FRA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) to work on these time lines we have spelt out, lest we plunge into the begging basket of the region.
By Jervis Zimba
PRESIDENT
Zambia National Farmers’ Union
NO FARMER, NO FOOD, NO FUTURE
Uko njala iyo yabwela manje!
paya farmer (PF) party
Bembas have never prioritized agriculture. The Bemba chap at FRA is the wrong person to be in that post. Zambia is been impoverished by the PF tribal militia! I am just quoting Nason Msoni the ‘veteran’ politician and the PF SG Mr Wynter Kabimba.
Labia Majora, please refrain from racist remarks. It is because of such derogatory and prejudicial remarks that we remain poor as a nation.
Please think of something more creative to write or remain as shut as the thing you have named yourself after.
While I’m not Bemba, I find your analysis to be myopic and without reason or direction. If PF has failed, simply say that PF has failed; racism and tribalistic tendencies lead only to destruction.
#OneZambia
Media outlets are not substitutes for dialogue and egngagement with government. Clearly ZNFU is playing games here. Government will pay. Generally accounting procedures for government payments are longer to avoid theft and corruption. There is no need to scandalize each other using the media. The end can not justify the means. The means are an end in themselves. Politicization of agriculture will not do.
While i may pick one or two words that constitute sense in your write up i do not agree to the fact that year in year out farmers are subjected to this kind of treatment. These challenges can easily be overcome if only planing was on top of our day to day agenda.
Why are we having endless meetings if they can help us improve?
Why even promise s/thing that you very well know you will not do?
Why not let farmers know the GRZ has no money and allow them to sell their maize to briefcase bushiness men/women who are ready pay farmers spot?
CNP kind of running the state affairs will always hamper development. THIS IS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER.
“Generally accounting procedures for government payments are longer to avoid theft and corruption.” R U OK? No need of medical care?
What a good excuse for imitating ostrich and burying head under the mountain of either incompetence or …?
Can someone tell me one thing PF has ever done right
Got elected !?!?
It is impossible for a nation to develop if it cannot feed itself. It is my hope that the government can sort this out once and for all.
On the same token, I hope that farmers can find some way to function without the need to go through FRA!
Problems Found Party.
Labia Majora is spot on. The FRA CEO did not even attend the interviews that were conducted in September last year. So how was he appointed? Why was the candidate that was selected by the interviewing panel that included the Chairman of the Board not given the job finally. Who changed the decision? Is it not because he was non-bemba? Where was ACC? Is Winter not being punished for the same non belonging. Instead of condemning the violent behaviour and those financing it one tribe is busy condemning the troubled Winter? PF without Winter will be highly tribal! We are all watching.