Government has so far paid out K711 million to farmers who sold maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) during the 2014 crop marketing season.
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that the Ministry of Finance has further released K100 million, translating into 60 percent of the payments made to the farmers.
A few days ago, government released K150 million to pay off outstanding arrears to farmers who sold their maize to the agency.
Mr. Simuusa disclosed that the remaining K650 million would be paid to the farmers next week to clear the outstanding the balance.
“Government has released K100 million today and additional funds will be released in the course of next week,” Mr. Simuusa said.
The minister has since thanked the farmers for their patience but still appealed to them to be calm as government is working round the clock to pay them all.
He said agriculture was the mainstay of the economy hence government attaches great importance to the sector.
Now, suddenly they will find the money. Anything to do with elections and bribing they will do. There is no money to buy drugs and essentials for hospitals but immediately a bye election is artificially created, they find the money. Kuyabebele!
They have always paid farmers. This is not their first year in power.
The farmers will get the money but knowing how they have suffered, they will teach some people a lessons come January 2015.
@Linuxman
In which planet in the last 3 years were farmers being paid on time.
Farmers are owed more than K600 Million, for how long?
And now in two days K250 million is released
CHEAP POLITICS
FLIGHT HH 2015
If your house’s roof is leaking do you build another one or you fix the leaking roof and maintain the house. Mostly maintenance costs less than fresh beginings. Fresh beginings needs very good time planning and budgeting. Otherwise one may just be set in loop with no forward development at all and time waits for no man.
Taking bets on who comes in with the most heart warming pictures this weekend. You pick the currency, of course, Katondo Boys.
A) RB and his Grand Mufti
B) Nevers and his never ending hope
C) The Lone General and his silent trail
D) Miles and his newest lawyer
E) Elias “Why Art Thou Invisible” Chipimo
F) Edith and the beautiful ladies of Zambia
G) UNIP minus KK – enough images of him already
H) HH making Kabwe look peaceful again
I) ED and his walking stick smashing a car window – joke
I) ED and his Freedom Park massive minus machetes
J) Wild Card – PF paying farmers – conveniently timED
You’re free to replace your respective party with a less biased reason for heart warming imagery. Those with no sense of humour should fully exercise their right not to vote.
A month ago these empty tins didn’t have funds…I bet you other projects are being sacrificed all in the name of clinging to power and continue with their corruption and recklessness.
I hope the PF is not printing money to pay farmers looking the the desperation of these people thus far.
If farmers are not paid on time for their produce, it is clear that this is not only criminal but also impares their ability to improve their lives. Agriculture being the biggest and most important sector in this country should be prioritised. Unfortunately, we cannot continue to trust the clueless PF to manage this important sector and many others.
PF kuyabebele! I thank you.
Change those glasses you look childish no one can take you seriously and that awful chain is for kaponyas.
Thieves, you pay a farmer in December, the time to buy the seed is long gone. If it was for Sata dying these innocent people could have continued dying. Sata needed to die to save these innocent lives, it is for this reason Zambians do not need the Problem Failures. It is time for the to go.
Too late Simuusa and Moonde the damage has already been done. Farmers were supposed to be paid in Aug and early Sept so that they pay and register to their cooperatives for the inputs. The only sane person in PF is Dr Mulenga who told the Eastern farmers that Pf Govt channelled the money to Sata’s funeral.
Will only believe when I get my share.
mr simuusa minister of agriculture you have not done enough in this ministry. at your kabwe convention mr sichinga said the bumper haverst was because of him and when you took over you promised to pay farmers two weeks after delivering their maize but check what month is this. yesterday you castegated the opposition parties that they politise this issue and you arrogantly challanged them to pay farmers. that indeed was foolish . fdd and upnd who complained on behalf of farmers didnt promise to pay farmers in two weeks time after delivery . any way iam not suprised you failed to manage maamba mine how could you manage a ministry and late alone the country. just find money to clear every farmer other wise its over for pf
This Wheelbrow Simuusa Agriculture Minister and his colleague Alexander Chikwanda should realise that small scale farmers are the same people soon they will begin to ask them to vote for their inefficient GOVT so that they remain in power.Now if one may ask where have they been all this time to release funds for farmers payments and what has been the problem to delay up to this time around?After subjecting farmers suffer for so long and then expect a vote from them is not an easy thing,all they ought to know is that we will flush them out come 2015 January when HH forms a NEW GOVT.Takwaba cila mwaka bashibulimi kulabacushafye pakufola indalama,mwanyaa tatwakamuvotele mwaisa ibukisha lilya mwaishiba ati kuvota elyo mwakwakwanya ukufumya indalama bushe tekutumpa uko?
PF too little too late. Recall you have already beaten the farmers. You think these adults are happy with your approach to appreciating they efforts? Or you think they are too poor just a bit of kwachas will make them forget how brutal you govt has been? Mr minister of agriculture get a life.