Mufumbwe District Commissioner, Elijah Munyompe has appealed to the government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to rescind its decision of reducing the number of satellite depots to operate in this year’s crop marketing season in the district.
In a letter dated 27th May, 2022, and signed by the FRA Provincial Marketing Coordinator, Trynos Lungu, FRA indicates that they had reduced satellite depots from the usual 12 to six that would operate during this year’s crop marketing season.
Mr. Munyompe says this would disadvantage farmers especially those in the far-flung areas in the district to transport their produce to the few operational satellite depots.
“We have a lot of people who are producing this crop but they are staying in far-flung areas, how do you expect them to take their produce to the marketing place that is 50 or 60 kilometers or even 100 kilometers,” he said.
The DC stated that government is encouraging its citizens to take up agriculture as a business to supplement the Zambia’s copper based economy.
He said the intention to have people take up agriculture will not be realized if the market for their produce as created through FRA is not readily available.
Mr Munyompe explained that the reduction in the number of depots means that farmers will sell their produce at a give-away price to briefcase buyers hence disadvantaging them.
Mr Munyompe has since written to FRA to revisit it’s decision to avoid the unnecessary tension from farmers.
“As District Administration we foresee an outcry from our farmers regarding the reduction in the number of depots from twelve (12) to six (6) in this year’s marketing season,” the letter dated 4th June 2022 and addressed to the FRA North Western Provincial Marketing Coordinator (PMC) reads in part,” he said.
The proposed six (6) depots to operate are Kabipupu, Kawama, Matushi, Munyambala, Kashima West and Mufumbwe Central.
Let’s be pragmatic in this year’s maize marketing season. There are signs of a poor harvest and we should make sure that we get all the maize that is out there. We also should encourage grz to stop maize and mealie meal exports. Where are the shadow agric and finance secretaries from all our opposition parties. This is the time for you to advise government.
I love this DC. Others would be defending Government over the decision to reduce the depots. He’s concerned with the collection of the crop.
I love this DC. Good advice. His colleagues would be busy defending GRZ over the decision to reduce the number of depots. Those with ears must pay attention to this timely advice.
It’s Bally fixing. Those extra 6 depots were for PF cadres and Lazy Lungu. That’s how they were stealing but now I can assure farmers that there will be no stealing. All the maize will be bought and paid for before the end of July 2022. Your government is working
Its time we stopped demonising commodity traders(briefcase business men), instead lets build everyone up. We have a lot of un employed youths who could get jobs in these SMEs. We should encourage them to move from the briefcase to a permanent location. They also need stop swindling people…..kikiki Farmers should be business savvy too. The Farmer should also move with the times.
Let them reduce the satellite depots.