Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
An agriculture expert has urged government to urgently pay farmers who supplied maize to the food reserve agency (FRA) and not wait for 3rd January, 2022 as announced by Agriculture Minister Mtolo Phiri recently.
Speaking in a telephone interview with q-news, Dr. Phiri notes that farmers who sold their grain to FRA during the 2020/2021 marketing season were supposed to be paid their money before 2021/2022 farming preparations.
He states that the farmers need to have their money before the end of December 2021 to enable them buy farming inputs.
Dr. Phiri has stressed the need for government to give the disbursement of funds to farmers the urgency that it deserves.
Last week, government announced that it owes farmers k1.6 billion and will resume the payment of farmers who supplied maize to FRA on 3rd January, 2022.