BRING BACK MY MAIZE, CHONGWE FARMER DEMANDS

A FARMER in Chongwe is demanding for the return of his maize by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) due to delayed payment for the commodity.

Regis Nkhomeshya, an emergent farmer of Chongwe has written to the Assistant Marketing officer in the district asking the agency to return his maize.

In a letter made available to the Daily Nation dated January 19, 2018 and copied to the Provincial marketing officer, Mr. Nkhomeshya is demanding for an immediate return of his maize.

"I am demanding for the maize which I supplied to FRA through the Kampekete satellite depot. I supplied 72, 50kg bags of meali meal.”

“I supplied the maize on the October 17, 2017, but all I have been paid are non-ending stories," he lamented.

Mr. Nkhomeshya who is said to have stormed the Mayor's office to register his displeasure narrated that, he was tired of unfulfilled payment assurances.

"The song has now become an irritant. I do not need the money anymore, all I want is my maize and I want it as soon as possible," he demanded.

Meanwhile another farmer who sought anonymity wondered why FRA is delaying in giving the farmers money.

"I supplied 180, 50 kg bags of maize and only FRA knows why I cannot be paid.”

‘I am not the only one in such a limbo and we do not even know how we will pay for our children's school fees. How can we even increase our hectare when even the little produce cannot pay dividend,” he said.

He explained that FRA should understand that farmers need to reinvest the money from the sale of the maize adding that this was making the farmers’ lives difficult.

Other farmers talked to by the Daily Nation wished they had sold their maize to briefcase business people who they said paid lower prices but cash.