DONT SELL MAIZE TO BRIEFCASE BUYERS – CHIEF PEMBAMOYO

FARMERS have been warned against selling maize to briefcase buyers. Chief Pembamoyo of Vubwi has sounded the warning for fear that farmers might be disadvantaging themselves by selling to briefcase buyers instead of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) at K150  per bag. The traditional leader notes that farmers have a role to play in complimenting the effort of government in ensuring food security. Chief Pembamoyo was speaking when he and Neria’s  Investments Limited general manager, Martin Chaikatisha conducted a farmiliarisation tour of one of the depots to  check on the stock levels of fertilizer. He urged farmers to realise that it is in the best interest of the nation to allow FRA to have control of the country’s strategic food reserves. And Chief Pembamoyo says the bumper harvest that the country has witnessed in the 2020/21 farming season is as a result of the Patriotic Front’s sound and effective agricultural policies. The traditional leader says the early distribution of farming inputs is one example that has made the bumper harvest possible. He thanked President Lungu for such a good programme that has also empowered many farmers across the country. The traditional leader is happy that farmers will again this year collect their inputs on time. And chief Pembamoyo is happy with the K150  maize floor price and said prices of mealie meal will be stabilized. “For me, I am comfortable with the price,” the traditional leader assured , and called on farmers to be part of government’s strategic plan of ensuring food security by desisting from selling their maize to brief case buyers. And Mr Chaikatisha has assured that all inputs are ready to be distributed so that farmers can start to adequately prepare for the next farming season. “It is good that the country has recorded a bumper harvest due to early distribution and this year we are already geared to ensure we deliver on time,” Mr Chaikatisha said.