Mafinga, August 26, 2024, ZANIS—The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has paid out over K18.298 million to 1,828 farmers in Mafinga district in Muchinga Province for the supply of maize.

The funds have been paid for the 55,450 x 50kg bags out of 168,678 x 50kg bags of white maize farmers in the district have sold to FRA so far.

Mafinga District FRA Marketing Assistant Officer Lucky Simbeye has confirmed the payment to the 1,828 farmers.

“We have so far paid money amounting to K18,298,500 for 55,450 x 50kg bags of white maize from our farmers in the district,” he said.

Mr Simbeye has since described the process as smooth and encouraging saying the agency is still buying the maize from the farmers.

“The farmers are also happy that we are not taking time to pay them as we are giving them cash a few weeks after they supply the maize and this has reduced traveling expenses on their part to Isoka district for their payments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mafinga area Member of Parliament Robert Chabinga is impressed with the performance of farmers in the production of maize which they are selling to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the district.

Mr Chabinga says farmers in the district have supplied 168,678 x 50kg bags of white maize to FRA, surpassing the agency’s target of 85,470 bags.

He was speaking to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in an interview immediately after checking on the FRA satellite depot in Muyombe area yesterday.

Mr Chabinga said the contribution by the farmers in the district shows that they are united and hardworking.

He mentioned that the stock of maize produced in the district will also help to feed drought-affected districts in the country.

“I want to thank the farmers here for this massive contribution to the food basket of the nation, this is what we mean when we say development,” he said.

Mr Chabinga further thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for ensuring that farming inputs are delivered in the district adding that the act has led to the success story of recording a bumper harvest.

He also commended the government through FRA for ensuring that farmers are paid in good time.

“It has never happened that farmers are paid in good time, this is really good and encouraging to the farmers,” he said.

The Mafinga lawmaker further appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the allocation of inputs to the district, saying Mafinga has a good rainfall pattern and can easily contribute to the country’s food security.

Meanwhile, Mr Bryan Malosa, one of the farmers commended the government for the timely payments saying the money will help them buy more farming inputs for the next farming season.

Mr Malosa said Mafinga District was also blessed with the rains hence the district recorded a bumper harvest.

And Mr Steven Munthali, another farmer who supplied 440 x 50kg bags of maize to the agency, appealed to the government to continue paying farmers in good time as it will also help them plan for their needs accordingly.

“We also appeal to the government to work on various roads in the district so that it’s easy for us to transport our produce to FRA depots with no challenges,” he said.

ZANIS/