• Farming inputs to increase following upward adjustment in fuel prices
• Farmers will be failing to transport their products to various markets.
• Government must find ways to help farmers.

An Agriculture Expert has called on Government to look into the plight of small scale farmers as the upward adjustment in fuel prices will negatively affect them.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Dr. Maxwell Phiri said with the hike in fuel prices, farming inputs and the cost of production will increase, a situation which will be unbearable for most small scale farmers.
Dr. Phiri stated that farmers will be failing to transport their products to various markets now that bus fares have increased following the hike in fuel prices.
He further urged Government to find ways to help farmers because they contribute immensely to the country’s food basket.
Dr. Phiri said Government must help farmers cushion the impact of high fuel prices as they did not prepare for this in advance.
“Food Reserve Agency (FRA) should also ensure that it pays farmers on time once it purchases maize from farmers in order for them to plan in advance for the farming season,” he said.
He noted that farming is a business which must produce profit once products are sold.