Africa-Press – Zambia. The government has released K667 million to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for outstanding payments to farmers under the 2020/2021 marketing season. Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said that all outstanding payments to farmers for the 2020/2021 season have now been cleared.
Dr. Musokotwane said that today’s action by the Treasury is significant because it represents a policy shift of the UPND Government to prioritize the agriculture sector as it presents the country with the best opportunity to attain growth, especially since the majority of people are dependent on the sector.
Dr. Musokotwane said that the sector has a relatively short gestation period with low capital requirements that are necessary to address poverty and vulnerability, adding that the sector has for a long time faced a number of impediments to the realization of its full potential, and these include, the historical delayed payments for grains supplied to the Food Reserve Agency, which impact on the productivity of a subsequent farming season.
Below is the full statement FARMERS DUES CLEARED We have released K667 million to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for outstanding payments to farmers under the 2020/2021 marketing season.
Considering the K960 million released to FRA on 3rd January, and the K667 million released today, all outstanding payments to farmers for the period under review have now been cleared. FRA is expected to start paying next week and clear everyone.
Today’s action by the Treasury is significant because it represents a policy shift of the UPND Government to piroritise the agriculture sector. The sector presents us the best opportunity for attaining growth; especially that the majority of our people, about 80 percent, are dependent on it. Agriculture has a relatively short gestation period with low capital requirements (especially among small scale farmers), both issues which are necessary in addressing poverty and vulnerability in Zambia.
The sector has for a long time faced a number of impediments to the realisation of its full potential, such as the historical delayed payments for grains supplied to the Food Reserve Agency. The situation negatively impacts on the productivity of a subsequent farming season. Gladly, the matter has effectively been concluded this month so that our farmers could focus on their fields instead of chasing payments.
We urge the competent authority in-charge to ensure that a transparent payment system is deployed so that our farmers get paid without delay. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING
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