. Simuusa

By KASONDE KASONDE? –
GOVERNMENT has released K150 million to pay off outstanding arrears to farmers who sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa said in an interview that Government hopes to offset the arrears for farmers by the end of this week.
“As I am talking right now some more funds have just been made available and farmers across the country are receiving their dues,” he said.
Mr Simuusa said farmers from Eastern, Copperbelt, Luapula, Western and North-Western provinces would be paid from the funds that have just been released.
All the farmers in the country will be paid by the end of December because irregularities that were experienced at some banks have been resolved.
Commenting on farmers that were beaten by Police officers in Eastern Province for staging a demonstration over their dues, Mr Simuusa said the farmers should not be used by politicians bent on pursuing their own agenda.
He has since urged farmers to be patient if they were to maximise profits in their produce.
The minister further stated that Government attached great importance to agriculture because farmers contribute significantly to national development.
Meanwhile, farmers in Serenje District have threatened to riot if they are not paid their money.?The farmers who stormed the District Commissioner’s office yesterday said they were tired of the delays and would resort to rioting to push the FRA to pay them.
Serenje District Commissioner Charles Mwelwa said farmers stormed his office and demanded to be paid.
The farmers refused to leave his office demanding their money and accused the FRA of not wanting to pay them.
‘Farmers stormed my office and demanded to be paid failure to which they threatened to riot in the streets and disrupt traffic flow in the district’, Mr Mwelwa said.
Mr Mwelwa has since assured the farmers that they would receive their money soon as the Government releases funds to settle the outstanding money.
Government was aware that the farmers were preparing their fields for the next farming season.
He also said the distribution of the farming input in the district was almost complete as the full consignment had been received.
Mr Mwelwe said the district received 42,000 by 50Kg bags of D Compound, 39,000 by 50Kg top dressing.—ZANIS