DON’T PAY US EARLY, WE MIGHT FINISH THE MONEY BEFORE DECEMBER, SAYS FARMER

DON’T PAY US EARLY, WE MIGHT FINISH THE MONEY BEFORE DECEMBER, SAYS FARMER. A Choma-based farmer has appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) not to pay farmers immediately after delivering their maize, but instead delay payments until October or November. Jacob Mwiinga, a maize farmer, says paying farmers within days […]

DON’T PAY US EARLY, WE MIGHT FINISH THE MONEY BEFORE DECEMBER, SAYS FARMER.

A Choma-based farmer has appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) not to pay farmers immediately after delivering their maize, but instead delay payments until October or November.

Jacob Mwiinga, a maize farmer, says paying farmers within days of supplying their maize could leave many without money by the time the next farming season begins.

Mr. Mwiinga says many farmers lack the financial discipline needed to manage large sums of money over a long period and may end up spending the funds before it is time to buy farming inputs.

“I have observed that among us farmers, we don’t have the financial discipline and training to manage money over a long period of time. What will happen now is that when we receive payments three days after supplying our maize, the money will disappear before December, when it is needed the most,” he said.

He suggested that payments be made in October or November, arguing that this is the period when farmers need money most to prepare for the next farming season.

“We can be paid in October and November, for instance, because that is when we need money for many farming activities. This method of paying within three days is very good, but we as farmers might face challenges next season because the money would have already been spent,” Mr. Mwiinga said.

President Hakainde Hichilema recently directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to pay farmers within a maximum of three days after they sell their maize—a move that has been widely described as unprecedented in Zambia’s history.

©️ Zambian Watch News.