The government says all farmers that are supplying maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will be paid their money at an appropriate time.
Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri explained that FRA is now buying the surplus maize outside the initial budget. The FRA has already met the 500,000 metric tonnes for strategic national reserves which was earlier budgeted for.
Mr. Phiri emphasised that the delay in the purchase of maize has been necessitated by lack of grain bags, a thing he said is being addressed steadily.
He pointed out that over 470,000 empty FRA grain bags are being dispatched to different parts of the country to cushion the deficit.
The Minister of Agriculture, who is also Chipata Central Member of Parliament, said all the farmers who sold the maize earlier and those currently selling to the FRA will be paid.
“All famers will be paid at an appropriate time because currently we are buying maize out of the budget having attained the national target. FRA has even resumed the purchase of the maize and I will discuss with FRA if they can use ordinary bags from the farmers,” he explained.
The Minister of Agriculture made the remarks in parliament today when responding to a question from Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Sunday Chanda.
Mr. Chanda wanted to know when the Food Reserve Agency will pay famers in Kanchibiya constituency and other parts of the country for the maize supplied during the 2021 marketing season, what the cause of the delay in paying the farmers is, and whether the delayed payment will not affect preparations for the 2021/2022 farming season.
And Kasama Central Member of Parliament Sibongile Mwamba asked the Minister of Agriculture about who will bear the cost for the maize that have been soaked by rains as it awaits purchase.
In response, the Agriculture Minister explained that farmers should dry the soaked maize before selling it to the agency.
Mr. Phiri pointed out that FRA only takes responsibility for the maize it has already bought.
He has since urged farmers to sell to other buyers owing to the fact that FRA will only buy an additional over 300,000 metric tonnes to add to the 500,000 metric tonnes that has already been purchased.
Mr. Phiri pointed out that the delay by FRA to pay farmers will not affect farmers during the forthcoming farming season because most of them are under the Farmer Input Support Programme which has already received attention from the government.
At an appropriate time is not the answer to the question when? When is appropriate? Is it October 2021, November 2021 or in the year 2022!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Appropriate time? How about NOW? These are Edgar China Lungu tricks!
I think farmers should be patient. Its difficult for someone to commit a day of payment in the midst of national budget preparation.
Simply say farmers supplying FRA with maize will be paid promptly. Do not deceive farmers. What may be appropriate to you as a government aMutolo may not be appropriate to farmers. I doubt the new Minister of Agriculture understands what he is talking about. No wonder he runs one of the most dirty lodges in the heart of Chipata. I could only sleep there one night and had to look for a better and cleaner lodge in which to stay whilst doing my research in Chipata.
When will the country address the problems caused by subsidised purchase of maize through FRA and government input subsidies through FISP?? Why cant the new government start considering some recommendations of making operational the Zambia Agricultural Commodity Exchange (ZAMACE) and effectively operate the warehouse receipt system-a system which would make available a ready and reliable market for smallholder farmers while at the same time reducing the need for Zambia to hold a large and expensive size of the maize strategic reserve through FRA? FRA should just buy the target for food reserves and this should be bought at the market rates. Find ways to encourage private participation through the ZAMACE and the warehouse receipt systems. Encourage private-public partnerships to establish…
This is sad you worked at FRA and you know the answer to ask them to do what….find money which you should supply…own maize bags means even substandard bags….just plan properly….dry the soaked maize….do you know that most grain once in contact with water begin the process of germination…do you even understand food security……gosh
And when I complain someone calls me a PF cadre. We have not received in puts up to now and when I complain I am labeled a PF cadre. So we have to suffer in silence or clap even when someone does wrong.
The so-called briefcase buyers are much better. You deliver, they pay on the spot and give you new bags to replace the ones you used.
Afternoon
Is reasonable for Govt to buy an additional 300,000 tonnes,where is the money coming from,what is FRA currently sitting with in stock?
Last year FRA bought other produce apart from Maize has this extension in qty been extended to other crops?
Govt through FRA should communicate to the farmers that threshold has been attained ,open up borders to allow for balance of maize stock be exported.
Govt can engage neighbours to establish how much Maize is required in the region and facilitate for exporters to attain quotas and also secure monies for farmers.
ECL kicked off planting season and input distribution in July .
How patient are you when your salary is not paid?
This is sad you worked at FRA and you know the answer to ask them to do what….find money which you should supply…own maize bags means even substandard bags….just plan properly….dry the soaked maize….do you know that most grain once in contact with water begin the process of germination…do you even understand food security……gosh
Is reasonable for Govt to buy an additional 300,000 tonnes,where is the money coming from,what is FRA currently sitting with in stock?
Last year FRA bought other produce apart from Maize has this extension in qty been extended to other crops?
Govt through FRA should communicate to the farmers that threshold has been attained ,open up borders to allow for balance of maize stock be exported.
Govt can engage neighbours to establish how much Maize is required in the region and facilitate for exporters to attain quotas and also secure monies for farmers.
ECL kicked off planting season and input distribution in July .
Is reasonable for Govt to buy an additional 300,000 tonnes,where is the money coming from,what is FRA currently sitting with in stock?
Last year FRA bought other produce apart from Maize has this extension in qty been extended to other crops?
Govt through FRA should communicate to the farmers that threshold has been attained ,open up borders to allow for balance of maize stock be exported.
Govt can engage neighbours to establish how much Maize is required in the region and facilitate for exporters to attain quotas and also secure monies for farmers.
ECL kicked off planting season and input distribution in July .
So what?
Then what?