By JULIUS PHIRI –
. Kasolo
GOVERNMENT has warned that it will blacklist agro dealers who are in the habit of exploiting small-scale farmers when selling inputs.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo said yesterday that it was saddening that some agro dealers in the province were exploiting farmers by hiking the prices of farming inputs for 2017-2018 farming season.
Mr Kasolo said his office had received reports from Nyimba that some agro dealers were increasing the retail prices of fertiliser in order to exploit farmers.
He explained that such agro dealers would be daelt with by the Government through cancellation of their license as well as blacklisting them.
“It is very unfortunate that some reports are stating that some agro dealers are trying to exploit farmers through the hiking of farming inputs maybe from K255 to K280 which is not good. Government shall blacklist such agro dealers if found exploiting the farmers,” he said.
Mr Kasolo also said the province had a lot of opportunities in various economic developments.
He said a number of projects had been lined up which would see massive developments in Eastern province.
He said the province further targetsed to create jobs for the youth through industrial parks that would be set up.
“The province will also see the setting up of a tractor assembling company that will also create opportunities for jobs,” he said.
