Farmers in Kawambwa decry shortage of maize sacks, reportedly spend weeks at FRA depot

Farmers are reportedly stranded without maize bags in Kawambwa’s Pambashe Constituency as countrywide shortage of maize sacks suppled by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA ) causes panic.

Farmers interviewed at Muyembe buying depot on Friday decried that lack of sacks had led to them spending weeks at the FRA depots.

Jane Musaila stated that farmers were coming from far areas to sell the maize but lack of sacks are making their efforts futile.

“This is frustrating, on one hand the government is encouraging farmers to sell maize to the FRA to avoid hunger in the country, but we are being frustrating, three weeks we have been here… FRA is saying empty bags are not yet in,” Musaila said.

She said the government should not subject farmers to sleeping in the cold while leaving their homes vulnerable.

Another framer, Justine Kasongo, said the government should quickly sort out the shortage of empty bags .

“This is unacceptable to say the least, the explanation we are being given are not satisfactory, FRA is ill prepared to participate in the crop marketing season, these things are budgeted for,” Kasongo said.

Meanwhile, Kawambwa District Commissioner, Godfrey Chililabombwe, assured the farmers that soon the sacks would be in.

“I am in contact with the the FRA, empty bags will be in. There is no need to panic, the government is control,” Chililabombwe said.

He said the procurement process had been very slow, but that the government was on top of the situation.

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