Maravi

Kalomo farmers have not received farming inputs – MP

Kalomo farmers have not received farming inputs – MP
By Mutale Kapekele
Tue 29 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

KALOMO Central member of parliament Request Muntanga has said farmers in his constituency have not yet received farming inputs for this farming season.

In an interview, Muntanga said none of the 600 bags of fertiliser that were promised to the small-scale farmers in his constituency by the government had been delivered.

“The farming inputs are still marooned in Lusaka and this is 20th December, when are we going to plant?” he asked. “Does the government want the farmers to plant after the rainy season is over? And this is the fertiliser that was promised to the vulnerable. What type of help is this when the inputs are not delivered on time?”

Asked what the UPND was doing to help the affected farmers, Muntanga said his party was not in government and it was difficult to help.

“Some of us are running out-grower schemes but we are not running government so it is difficult to help,” he said. “The government should just get serious and deliver on their promises. I heard the minister of community development saying that next year, they will deliver in June. They should not talk of next year. What about this farming season? What will the people eat?”

And Muntanga wondered why retirees were told to personally take their employment files to Lusaka to get their benefits.

“Why is it that retirees from here (Kalomo) have to personally look for their files and take them to Lusaka to get their benefits?” asked Muntanga. “That is why a lot of files get lost and people end up not getting their money on time. I would like to appeal to the government to work out payment modalities that will allow retirees to get their money within the province.”

Labels: FERTILIZER, FSP, KALOMO, REQUEST MUNTANGA

posted by MrK @ 4:27 AM