Mufumber farmers to be paid next week – DC

Mufumbwe District Commissioner (DC), Mankishi Mukokwe, has assured farmers that they will receive their money from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for the maize they supplied for this year’s marketing season.

 

Ms Mukokwe made the assurance yesterday when farmers from various depots stormed her office demanding to be paid for the maize they sold to the FRA.

 

She assured the farmers that government was working tirelessly to ensure it paid all the farmers who sold their maize to the FRA.

 

The District Commissioner told the farmers that government had released about K50 million to pay farmers.

 

Ms Mukokwe urged the farmers to be patient as they would begin receiving their money by next week.

 

And a farmer’s representative, James Monay, said the delay to pay farmers on time has adversely affected them in terms of farming.

 

Mr Monay explained that this was because farmers did not have money to sustain their livelihoods.

 

He appealed to the FRA and other authorities to see to it that farmers in the district got their dues.

 

Meanwhile, Matushi Ward Councillor, Jacob Kayona, has advised government to quickly pay the farmers to ensure a good 2014/2015 farming season.

 

Mr Kayona said delayed payment of farmers will make it difficult for them to purchase inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).

 

Mr Kayona added that farmers in Mufumbwe depended on farming inputs for their farming