Small scale farmers in Ntembo and New Kapela village of Mukololo ward in Senga Hill district have raised concerns on the high prices being charged to transport a 90 bag of maize to the satellite depot.
Samuel Simuyemba said transporters are charging between K80 and K75 per 90 bag from Ntembo and New Kapela village to Chileshya depot.
Mr Simuyemba was speaking in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Senga Hill District today
He disclosed that transporters have taken advantage of the deplorable state of the roads to over-charge farmers.
Mr Simuyemba narrated that a further K10 is also paid by farmers for loading and offloading of the 90 bag of white maize.
He has since appealed for the establishment of the satellite depot at old Kapela to be servicing four communities namely Ntembo, New Kapela, Ilola and Old Kapela villages.
Mr Simuyemba explained that this means farmers will be selling their maize at less than the K330 announced by government through the Food Reserves Agency (FRA) due to transport costs.
“As farmers we really want to sell our maize to FRA but the cost of transporting the maize is what is scaring us because we cannot afford to run at a loss,” he said.
He also called on the FRA to hasten the process of buying maize before it is sold to the private and foreigners who have invaded the areas.
Mr Simuyemba disclosed that already people who have invaded the areas are offering higher prices to lure farmers hence the need for government to shorten the distance to the market.
And Mukololo Ward Councilor Benson Simfukwe confirmed receiving the complaint on high transportation charges of maize.
Mr Simfukwe said small scale farmers are concerned with the long distance to the nearest selling point which is at Chileshya.
He said currently the ward has only three depots at Senka, Chileshya and Chilundumusi.
Mr Simfukwe further disclosed that a proposal to have another one opened in Old Kapela was done to cushion transportation challenges faced by small scale farmers.
He said workers in all the three depots have been deployed but called on FRA to give a feedback on the proposed satellite at Old Kapela village.
