• Government must urgently pay farmers
• Farmers were supposed to be paid their money before 2021/2022 farming preparations.
• Government announces that it will recommence the payment of farmers on 3rd January 2022.

An Agriculture Expert has advised Government to urgently pay farmers who supplied maize to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and not on 3rd January 2022, as announced by Agriculture Minister Rueben Phiri.

Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Dr. Maxwell Phiri noted 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.

Dr. Phiri stated that the farmers needed to have their money before the end of December 2021 to enable them buy farming inputs for the next agriculture season.

He stressed the need for Government to give the disbursement of funds to farmers a high sense of urgency.

“Government’s decision to recommence payment of farmers who supplied Maize to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) during 2020/2021 marketing season on 3rd January 2022 will affect this year’s farming season as farmers depend on the funds to buy their farming inputs,” he said.

Last week, Government announced that it will recommence the payment of farmers who supplied maize to Food Reserve Agency on 3rd January 2022.

Agriculture Minister Rueben Phiri said Government had secured some funds to clear the K1.6 million debt that it owes farmers who supplied their Maize, Rice and Maize to Food Reserve Agency during the 2021 marketing season.