Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu has appealed for calm among Agro dealers who are reported to have halted the distribution of inputs demanding first to be paid by government.
Mr Zulu says the agro dealers should be patient as they will be paid when farmers redeem their monies saying it is the only time when government can settle the balance.
Responding to concerns that some agro-dealers engaged in the distribution farming inputs in Mambwe district have halted the exercise due to non-payment by government, Mr Zulu said the agro dealers should not cause panic but instead wait for the farmers to pay their K400 before Government can offset the balance.
He stated that government cannot fail to pay the agro dealers saying they should exercise patience as their demands will be met in line with the laid down procedure.
The minister has since advised the agro dealers to work with District Agriculture Coordinators (DACOs) for efficiency of the programme.
Yesterday, some farmers in Mambwe district were reported to have been left stranded as the agro dealers were refusing to provide inputs demanding government to pay them.
Pf is working. Come 2021, it will be a walkover! Awe mwe.
K400 is too much for a peasant farmer.
PF = Paya Farmer
@maloza. Which farmers? South African farmers? Kabiyeni uko mwe!!
What a country, is there no contracts to these contracts? Does the contract not spell out how things will be done or is it jungle approach? Some countries are really lawless!
That were the chinese factor comes in. And you the same will be complaining why Chinese get contracts.
Chinese dont wait to be paid before they start work. As long as a contract is signed they are willing to get there money when and if gov’t is able
Just engage Chinese.
Nkongole Administration
Government should be serious for once, it has accrued a lot of domestic debt because of not paying the local business ventures on time, as a result financial capital has been tied up. The ripple effect has not spared most households and other economical activities. However, there is always money to hire private jets for non-stop global tours with close friends and cadres. They dealers are justified and it is not the first time. Once beaten twice shy. The government is working my foot!