Irate farmers storm Chinsali DC’s office

Farmers in Chinsali and Shiwang’andu districts of Muchinga Province yesterday stormed the Chinsali District Commissioner’s office to complain over delayed payment by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

The farmers sold maize to the FRA during the 2014 crop marketing season.

The irate farmers threatened to have their maize withdrawn from FRA sheds if they were not paid their money immediately.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved farmers, Kennedy Mutale complained that the delays by FRA to pay them their money have greatly affected their farming activities and domestic economic status in general.

Mr. Mutale said the farmers were promised that they would be paid in two weeks’ time after delivering their maize to FRA sheds but this has not happened.

He added that the farmers sold their maize in August but to date, they have not yet been paid their dues.

Another farmer Violet Mhango, said farmers in Chinsali and Shiwangándu districts will not accept to be given fertilizer to be part of their payment as suggested.

Ms. Mhango said farmers have no money to pay people working in their fields adding that the four bags of fertilizer they have been promised was not sufficient.

She said they would rather be paid their money so that they can make their own budgets instead of being given fertilizer.

Meanwhile, Chinsali District Commissioner Evelyn Kangwa and Muchinga Province Agriculture Coordinator (PACO) Victor Mulopa assured the farmers that they will be paid their money this week.