Maravi

Chief Chanje bemoans delayed payment to farmers

Chief Chanje bemoans delayed payment to farmers
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thu 06 May 2010, 03:20 CAT

CHIEF Chanje in Chipata has said people in his area are bitter with delays by tobacco out-grower companies to pay them.

And Chipata District Farmers Association chairperson James Mwale has said the farmers have mounted pressure on the association due to the delay by the companies to pay them.

In an interview yesterday, chief Chanje said most tobacco farmers who sold their produce have not been paid.

“We are fed up with these delays by mostly Alliance One and Eastern Fodya Association of Zambia (EFAZ) to pay the farmers. You know people in my area depend on farming. Now if payments delay like this, then things cannot go well,” he said.

Chief Chanje said the only out-grower company that was not delaying was Africa Leaf.

“Africa Leaf is paying but I don’t know the problem with these others. So I am planning to summon the leaders of these companies at my palace so that they could explain what has prompted this delay,” he said.

Chief Chanje said the delay in paying the farmers would have a negative impact on loan recoveries.

“If they delay to pay the people, how are the people going to pay off the loans? Let them pay the farmers because the season opened a long time ago,” he said.

And chief Chinunda has expressed concern over the late payment.
Chief Chinunda has said most out-grower companies had not yet started buying tobacco in his area. And Mwale said the tobacco companies had not been paying since April 22 this year.

“They have not been paying since the 22nd of last month, they have no money. They are saying they are waiting for budget transfer. I don’t know whether it’s from Malawi or from Lusaka, I don’t know. As it is now, we have a problem because farmers are just trying to find out the correct position,” said Mwale.

Labels: CHIEF CHANJE, CHIPATA, CHIPATA DISTRICT FARMRAS ASSOCIATION, EFAZ, JAMES MWALE, TOBACCO

posted by MrK @ 4:43 AM