FRA clears farmers’ payments
Written by Millennium on April 20, 2019
SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has started paying the last batch of farmers who had not been paid as directed last week by President Edgar Lungu, says the agency executive director Chola Kafwabulula.
Mr Kafwabulula said FRA started paying the farmers on Monday, April 15, 2019 and the exercise would be completed soon.
He said this in a statement issued to the Sun by FRA public relations officer, Daniel M’soka.
“The agency is right now paying farmers in Serenje, Mpika, Nakonde, Mbala, Kasempa, Mufumbwe, Kalomo and Kazungula districts the balance of K36 million which was owed to farmers in these areas,” Mr Kafwabulula said.
He reiterated that the K36m was the remaining balance for farmer payments countrywide and once paid out the agency would not be owing any farmer.
Mr Kafwabulula further said FRA in the last marketing season faced fierce competition from the private sector and bought only 174,685 metric tonnes of maize against a target 500,000 metric tonnes because of its lower price offer.
He said the total amount of the crop value FRA bought from farmers countrywide stood at K244, 558,790.00.
Last week President Edgar Lungu directed the Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo to pay farmers owed by FRA when he officiated at the Agritech Expo in Chisamba.
President Lungu gave Mr Katambo a 3 day ultimatum to ensure farmers were paid and on Monday funds were released.
