Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Small Scale Farmers Network has expressed disappointment over government’s failure to pay farmers who sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency on time.
Network President Edward Nsama says the farmers had so much confidence in the government after promising them that they would be paid two week after they had sold their maize, but are now disappointed that this promise has not been fulfilled.
Mr. Nsama notes that what is more saddening is that the farmers even refused to sale their maize to private buyers due to the confidence that they had in the government.
He says the failure by the government to pay the farmers on time, if not handled properly may have an impact on how the farmers will vote in the 2015 presidential election.
Mr. Nsama says this should be a lesson to those in opposition aspiring to be in government that they should not promise what they know they cannot fulfill.
He says farmers depend on the money from the sale of their maize for survival and hence the delay in paying them has made life difficult for them.
He has appealed to the government to quickly pay the farmers to enable them plan on time for the farming season which has already commenced.
Reporting by Lusa Kilale