Govt acts to purge fake agro dealers
GOVERNMENT will eliminate fake agro dealers this coming farming season to protect the countr ’s revenue and inputs, Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe has said.
“I do not want to delay FISP and pay agro dealers. Let us help each other because there are many fake agro dealers and that is my Government revenue which I am struggling to find to pa those fake ones. It is one step forward, two steps bac wards.’’
Ms Mwanakatwe said Government was aware of fake agro dealers in the agriculture chain who were stealing inputs such as fertilisers and seed meant for small-scale farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
The Minister regretted that K2.8 billion was paid to the unscrupulous agro dealers last year.
She was speaking at the weekend during a stakeholder’s engagement on sales tax in Nakonde at the weekend.
“I do not want to delay FISP and pay agro dealers. Let us help each other because there are many fake agro dealers and that is my Government revenue which am struggling to find to pay those fake ones. It is one step forward, two steps backwards.
“Help me to clear as well. I want to work with so many business people but help me to move out of the way those fake agro dealers that are getting fertiliser and selling it,” she said.
Ms Mwanakatwe said Government had last month paid off K69 million towards dismantling of arrears under FISP to agro dealers.
For 2019/20 season, she said, Government had formed a technical committee to ensure that only genuine agro dealers were paid on time
want to find money, last year K2.8 billion went to unscrupulous business people. Taxes can be reduced where we are saving and where all of us are more compliant. You can imagine if all of us were compliant, revenue basket can grow and surely I will reduce the tax base,” Ms Mwanakatwe said.