FRA assures farmers over payments

FRA assures farmers over payments
Written by Florence Bupe in Chongwe
Saturday, July 25, 2009 7:27:25 PM

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has assured that farmers who are selling their maize grain to the agency will receive their payments within 10 days from the supply date in order to allow them acquire their inputs on time.

During the tour of Kanakantapa maize buying depot in Chongwe on Wednesday, FRA public relations officer Mwamba Siame said the agency had devised a system that would allow for farmers to receive their payment in time to avoid delays in the purchase of inputs.

“This year, farmers will be paid their money within 10 days from the time they deliver their produce to the depot. We have given the farmers specific days on which to get their payment from the banks to avoid congestion,” she said.

Siame expressed hope that government would source additional funds for the purchase of more produce above the targeted 110,000 metric tonnes for this year’s season.

FRA has this year been allocated K100 billion for the maize purchasing exercise, amid protests by most stakeholders who have complained that the targeted quantity is too low against the estimated harvest of 1.8 million metric tonnes.

FRA is set to buy 2.2 million by 50 kilogramme bags of maize and 30,000 bags of rice this year.

Earlier this week, agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo said the government was trying to source additional funds for the maize buying exercise.

And Kanakantapa depot manager Musa Phiri said the 4,600 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize that FRA had directed each depot to purchase was too low.

Kanakantapa cooperative board chairperson Suwe Zulu said the low purchases would result in discontent among small-scale farmers.