Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) All farmers to be paid their money by 31st October-Guy Scott

All farmers to be paid their money by 31st October-Guy Scott
TIME PUBLISHED - Sunday, October 23, 2011, 1:11 pm

Vice President Guy Scott has assured farmers in the country that Government would finish paying them their dues through the Food Reserve Agency by 31st October this year.

Speaking during the Kulamba Kubwalo traditional Ceremony of the Lenje speaking people held in Chibombo yesterday, Dr Scott said if there would be cases of some farmers not paid their dues by the specified date, his office should be informed so that he could direct FRA to do as stated.

He also informed farmers that all the farming inputs for the 2011/2012 farming season were in place and that Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives would ensure that the inputs were distributed by November this year.

The Vice President said contrary to what the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) indicated in their quest to de-campaign the Patriotic Front (PF) that it would terminate free distribution of farming inputs once it came to power, Government would continue with the Fertiliser Support Programme and that this time Soya Beans has been included in the package to allow farmers to widen their horizons.

Dr. Scott said it was Government’s intention to see a better Zambia with economic values and that it wanted proper farming methods for farming and hoped that the inclusion of Soya Beans on the FSP programme would enhance crop diversification and subsequently boost the country’s economy.

He thanked the people of Chibombo for their support during the elections and said the main reason he was attending the ceremony was not because he was Vice President but because he grew up in Lenje land and just wanted to know how his tribesmen were doing after the elections.

Dr. Scott, was accompanied to the ceremony by Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Mary Kawandami.

Later, speaking when he met PF party officials at Chibombo District Council Chamber, Dr. Scott said the victory experienced by the ruling party was not a mere victory but the hand of God.

He said the PF faced a lot of intimidation and character assassination by the ruling MMD and that it was never possible for the PF to emerge victorious without the glorious hand of God which he said he would forever be grateful to.

The Vice President said PF was happy to have won three Parliamentary seats out of the 14 seats in Central Province especially that Central Province was an MMD stronghold.
He said PF would have actually done much better in many constituencies and even scooped the Muchinga Constituency seat had it not been for the fact that former Vice President George Kunda had spent a lot of state resources to win the elections.

However, Dr Scott said his Government was happy with the people of Central Province and would ensure that they delivered on their campaign promises.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama, Opposition MMD Provincial Chairlady Grace Mulando, Kembe MMD Member of Parliament Ronnie Shikapwasha, Former Member of Parliament for Kapiri Friday Malwa, among others.

ZANIS

Labels: AGRICULTURE, FARMERS, FISP, FRA, GUY SCOTT

posted by MrK @ 6:45 PM