2)–FRA pays K2.3 million to eastern farmers

FRA pays K2.3 million to eastern farmers

Chipata, July 25, 2014, ZANIS…. Government has purchased over 34, 000 by 50 kilogram bags of maize in Eastern A region since the opening of the market  on July 1.

Meanwhile, a total of K2, 390 million has so far been paid to farmers who sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the Eastern province.

And the over 34,000 bags of maize have between purchased from peasant farmers in Chipata, Chadiza, Lundazi, Vubwi and Mambwe which are located in the Eastern A zone between July 1 and July 21.

Acting Provincial Agriculture Coordinator Kennedy Kanenga confirmed the maize purchase during the second quarter of the Provincial Development coordinating Committee (PDCC) meeting in Chipata this morning.

Mr Kanenga said a total of 34,182 by 50 kg bags of maize were purchased from the five districts.

ZANIS reports that Mr Kanenga stated that 29 out of 72 deports in the five districts were opened and noted that the other deports had not yet started purchasing the grain due to high moisture content.

And Mr Kanenga disclosed that a total of K2, 390 million has so far been paid to farmers who sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the Eastern province.

He said that K1, 386 million was paid to farmers in Chipata while K429, 900 was paid to those in Lundazi district.

Mr Kanenga stated that K464, 000 was paid to farmers in Vubwi while a total of K116 000 has been paid to the farmers who sold their grain to the Agency in Mambwe district.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province has received 326,500 bags of D-compound fertilizer out of 401,900 by 50 kilogram bags that were allocated for the province.

Mr Kanenga disclosed during the meeting today that though the province has not yet received all the inputs, all the nine districts of the province have received partial allocations.

He said Chipata district has so far received 93,750 out of the 94,600 which was allocated to the district saying the balance is yet to be received.

He stated that government will ensure that all the inputs are sent to the districts in good time so that the distribution to the beneficiary farmers is done early to enable the farmers prepare for the next farming season.

The acting PACO noted that 58,000 by 50 kilogram bags of D compound was received in Lundazi district as at July 1, 2014.

He stated that Chadiza has so far received 30,800, while received Katete 40,500 and Mambwe 11,000 by 50 kilogram bags.

Others are Nyimba with a total of 20,000, Petauke 32,550, Sinda 23,500 and Vubwi, 16, 700 by 50 kilogram bags have been released.

Mr Kanenga stated that the province has not yet started receiving urea saying 368,638 by 50 kilogram bags which were allocated.