Chipata DC calls for patience among farmers

Chipata District Commissioner Kalunga Zulu has called for patience among farmers that have not yet received their money for the maize supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Chipata district.

Mr Zulu said there is need for farmers to exercise patience as government is committed to paying them their money without further delays.

The District Commissioner told ZANIS in an interview in Chipata today that the recently released K500, 000 to offset all the money been owed to farmers shows great commitment on the part of government to pay all farmers.

Mr. Zulu was reacting to complaints by some farmers in the district that have not yet been paid their money by FRA for the maize they supplied.

And the District Commissioner has dismissed reports that government has closed the window period for the distribution of farming inputs for the 2014-2015 agriculture season.

He said government realizes that many farmers have not yet accessed inputs as they are still being owed by FRA.

Mr Zulu said it is for this reason that the distribution process cannot be closed when many farmers targeted to benefit from the programme have not got their allocation.

He advised farmers not to believe such statements as they are aimed at discouraging and disturbing their preparations for the farming season.

Mr Zulu expressed happiness with the progress of the on-going input distribution for the 2014-2015 farming season in the district.