BY SYLVESTER MWALE –

THERE is little, if any dispute, that agriculture is a business with a great potential to help ending poverty among the rural community and become the backbone of Zambia’s economy.

With loud calls to diversify the nation’s economy, it is highly anticipated that agricultural policies will be tailored towards reducing challenges faced by small-scale farmers.

Apparently, more than 70 per cent of Zambians live in rural areas and largely practise farming for their living. Maize which is the country’s staple food is widely grown across the country and has provided food and income for many people.

Although there have been private buyers, the Government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has been the major player which has provided a good price for maize and other crops on its purchase menu.

Therefore, many small-scale farmers have been forced to sell their produce to the FRA in a bid to get more profit for their crops.

However, the manner in which the FRA has conducted its business leaves much to be desired.

The agency has not only run away from its commitment of paying farmers timely, but has betrayed the desires of making agriculture one of the cornerstones of the country’s economy.

According to the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), the agency owed its members about K1 billion.

“I am disappointed with the FRA because they have killed my plans,” said Mathias Banda, a small-scale farmer of Katete district, who has been waiting for payment for more than three months after delivering his maize to the agency.

“I am stranded and I don’t know how I will plan for the next farming season which is already at the corner, I hope the government can help otherwise most of us will be doomed.”

Mr Banda is apparently one of thousands of small scales farmers that have been left in wonderment with the failure or delay by the FRA to pay them after getting their crops.

In Kawambwa, in Luapula Province, some small-scale farmers expressed their anger at the agency, accusing it of bringing misery among the people in the area.

“Farmers grow maize to help them ease their problems when they sell to the FRA but it is instead bringing more miseries by not paying them on time,” Agnes Kabwe one of the farmers told ZANIS during the week.

In Mufumbwe, in North-Western Province, farmers stormed the District Commissioner’s office during the week to express their anger at the delayed payment.

“This is too much, we have waited and now we are tired,” said Lapson Kayombo, a representative of the farmers. “This has affected our preparations for the 2014/2015 farming season.”

Apart from sparking complications in the planning process for the next farming season, the delayed payment has also sent farmers in panic mode as they are unable to pay back their loans to various commercial banks.

ZNFU president Evelyn Nguleka said the delays to pay farmers would also delay the approval of new loan facilities by commercial banks for the 2014/2015 farming season.

“The FRA owes the farmers but be aware that farmers owe the banks and because of this, banks have put on hold approvals of new seasonal facilities for the upcoming season,” she said.

Dr Nguleka noted that further delays in paying farmers by FRA would destroy the sector and the relationship that has been created with commercial banks.

The Ministry of Agriculture, which had made assurances that farmers would be paid within days after delivering their crops is struggling to convince or assure the small scale farmers on when they would be paid.

FRA director Chola Kafwabulula refused to comment and referred all the queries to public relations officer Daniel M’soka. However, Mr M’soka also referred the query to Agriculture Minister Wylbur Simuusa who could not be reached by press time.

But the agriculture Minister is on record as saying that 38 per cent of the total payment is still outstanding.

Mr Simuusa, who asked for patience from farmers, said the Government had so far paid out K431 million to farmers that have delivered the crop to the FRA.

Much as the effort by the government is appreciated, there is little doubt that the farmers have been affected negatively with the prolonged delay.

It is indisputably clear that the agricultural sector which has for long time been tipped to become a mainstay of the country’s economy is embroiled in severe challenges that could undermine the potential.

There is generally need for the government to address the bottlenecks in the marketing exercise by the FRA and ensure that agriculture remains a business with potential to become the country’s economic mainstay.

The continuous complaints by small-scale farmers of delayed or failed payment of money for the maize is not only against the principles of good business, but also a let down to vulnerable farmers who have toiled to earn their crops.