Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri has assured clients of the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF) that they will start receiving their funds this week.

Mr Phiri said the government understood the value of the financing facility in enabling sustainable agriculture and food security.

He said this when he witnessed the disbursement of the Emergency Social Cash Transfer (ESCT) funding to various beneficiaries in Petauke.

“The President understands that many Zambians rely on agriculture so he introduced these loans. So those that applied for these loans here in Petauke and other parts of the Eastern Province, this week you are getting,” he said.

Mr Phiri however urged the SAFF clients to pay back the loans, to ensure its sustainability.

“The requirement is that when you get these loans, you are required to pay back,” he said.

And a beneficiary of the ESCT Lyford Phiri, expressed commended government for the commitment of ensuring that  people are food secure in the wake of the hunger induced by the drought.

“When we talk about hunger it is a very scary topic. So, where I am, I have great respect for the government. Look at the number of people that every month you are empowering with money. I ask myself what kind of money the government has,” he said.