FRA to pay all farmers this week

Government says it will  this week pay all outstanding balances to all farmers  who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency  (FRA) countrywide.

Minister of Agriculture Wylbur Simuusa said the government was working hard to ensure that all farmers, who have not yet received their money, were paid before the end of the week.

Mr. Simuusa disclosed this development to ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka today.

The minister said FRA has already paid about 80 percent of farmers countrywide.

Mr. Simuusa said the remaining 20 percent farmers, who are from Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces, will be cleared this week.

The minister has since urged farmers in the country not to panic but to remain calm as government has already secured funds to pay them.

He however did not disclose how much money government still owed farmers.