Small scale farmers owed K500 million for maize supplied in the 2020-2021 crop marketing season in Zambia

Published 2021년 9월 15일

Tridge summary

The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has called attention to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA)'s failure to pay over K500 million to farmers for maize supplied during the 2020-2021 marketing season. This issue was highlighted during a meeting with the FRA and was particularly concerning for small-scale farmers, who rely heavily on maize farming. The ZNFU has given the FRA a 14-day ultimatum to make the payments. In response, the Provincial Agriculture Coordinator for Southern Province, Marx Choombe, outlined the government's efforts to revitalize agriculture by enhancing productivity and production, and urged farmers to diversify their crops to high-value ones like soybeans and sunflower to improve income. The government also pledged to support value addition of agricultural produce.

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Original content

Over K500 million is still being owed to farmers by the Food Reserve Agency(FRA) for maize supplied in the 2020-2021 crop marketing season. This came to light in Choma today when Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) President Jervis Zimba addressed farmers during an annual general meeting for the Choma-Kalomo farmers association. Mr Zimba said small scale farmers are usually the most affected by the situation as most earn their living from maize farming. He noted that the next farming season is soon approaching, adding that the tendency to pay the farmers during the rainy season negatively affects their farming activities. “FRA must have a heart for the farmers. As a union, we are giving them 14 days to pay. We will take them on. We know what their act says. We know what their invoice says,” Mr Zimba warned. However, Provincial Agriculture Coordinator Marx Choombe, who represented Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa at the meeting, could not immediately respond to the ...

Source: Lusakatimes