Government has released K150 million to pay off all outstanding arrears to farmers who sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that government hopes to offset some pending payment arrears for farmers by the end of this week.
“As I am talking right now some more funds have just been made available and farmers across the country are receiving their dues,” he said.
Mr. Simuusa said farmers from Eastern, Copperbelt, Luapula, Western and North-Western provinces will be paid from the funds that have just been released.
He said all the farmers in the country will be paid by the end of December because irregularities that were experienced at some banks have been resolved.
Commenting on farmers that were beaten by police officers in Eastern Province for intending to stage demonstration over their dues, Mr. Simuusa said the farmers should not be used by politicians who want to politicise the issue to achieve their own agendas.
He has since urged farmers to be patient if they were to maximize profits in their produce.
The minister further stated that government attaches great importance to agriculture because farmers contribute significantly to national development.
Meanwhile, the head of Information, Education and Training at the Human Rights Commission Dorothy Mubemba said the commission will issue a comprehensive statement on the alleged beating of farmers after establishing the truth.
Breaking news
HH promises to vote for Edgar
2015 vote PF ( Edgar )
I thank you
Are you so desperate that you can’t work with facts?
Keep fighting as PF and leave UPND.
HH FOR PRESIDENT 2015
FLIGHT HH 2015
Katondo boys.
You seem to be intellectually challenged person. This is because you only have one line of arguing any point. Do show diversity in your arguments so you can represent Lungu correctly, seeing you are such a hard core supporter of his. Inform the nation what Lungu stands for on the following issues, agriculture, educations, beer industry especially, job creation strategies and on international relations. On his achievements as a person let us know more about him, so we can make informed decisions. Otherwise, you are misrepresenting him by mono-thinking to imply PF only sees things in one lens. Especially the faded Dochi kubeba lens.
Finally the farmers get their due. This does not change the fact that they will still do a Donchi Kubeba on you!
Don’t be fooled. It’s an election ploy. They are about to start campaigning now and want to fool the poor farmers again.
Simuusa knows too well that names of peasant farmers who paid for their 2014/2015 inputs were submitted to Govt in Sept by their respective cooperatives. The number of packs (bags of fertilizer and seed) allocated to each cooperative depends on the number of paid up members. The allocation was already done unless Simuusa plans to redo the process which means some cooperatives will receive their inputs in March. Simuusa and Moonde mwaleka kuyeeya kabontu basankwa!
pf really has got nothing to offer even at a time when they are supposed to prove others wrong they still tell lies if you pay by the end of december what do you think you have done. mr simuusa you are a farmer and you have paid yourself leaving poor farmers to languish in agony. when we talk of hh as president you should believe that we really mean that viva hh viva upnd abash pathetic liars
This is a big problem with PF, when they wake up in bed they start telling lies.
At breakfast, they tell lies.
At lunch time, they tell lies.
At supper, they tell lies.
Even when going to bed they keep on telling lies.
These are lying liars who tell lies every time they open their mouths. Vote wisely! Remember GBM, Scott, kambwili, Sampa and the likes, I doubt if they’ll b part of the government if PF pulls through.