Maravi

Don’t sell products to briefcase buyers, Kapiri DC tells farmers

Don’t sell products to briefcase buyers, Kapiri DC tells farmers
Written by Isaac Zulu in Kapiri Mposhi
Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:35:59 PM

KAPIRI Mposhi district commissioner Cosmas Musumpuka has advised farmers in the area not to sell their produce to briefcase buyers.

In an interview yesterday, Musumpuka explained that he was aware of briefcase businessmen that had entered the district and were currently buying maize cheaply.

He advised farmers to exercise patience and sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency at a better price.

“I have heard reports of briefcase businessmen that are buying farm produce at very low prices,” Musumpuka explained. “This is to the disadvantage of our small scale farmers who toil for their produce. I would advise the farmers to exercise patience and ensure that they sell their maize to FRA at a good price.”

He observed that it was difficult to convince the farmers to hold on to their produce until the Food Reserve Agency starts buying their maize, saying most small-scale farmers are forced to sell their produce at low prices due to poverty.

“I know it’s difficult to convince them to be patient; and it’s because of poverty,” he observed. “You know for our small-scale framers, this is their annual income and not monthly income, and they would want to meet daily needs and pay fees for their children.”

Musumpuka further attributed the problem to the delay in payments experienced by farmers in the past when they sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency, but was quick to note that the FRA had this year promised to pay farmers cash on delivery.

Last week during the District Agricultural and Commercial Show, Kapiri Mposhi district agricultural show chairman, Fredrick Musonda bemoaned the shortage of FRA depots to allow farmers sell their produce easily, saying this had resulted in many farmers falling prey to unscrupulous buyers who were buying agricultural produce at very low prices.

Labels: AGRICULTURE, KAPIRI MPOSHI, PRICING

posted by MrK @ 2:36 PM