By 
Patriotic Front (PF) Kanchibiya Constituency lawmaker, Sunday Chanda, has called for urgent reforms and accountability in the agricultural sector to restore confidence among farmers who sustain the country’s food security.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Chanda said the piecemeal approach being applied to settle payments, as announced by Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo, was not inspiring.
He added that the crisis reflected poorly on both the Ministry of Agriculture and its agency, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), for failing farmers at a time when the agricultural season had already begun.
Chanda noted that on the floor of Parliament, the people of Kanchibiya, through him, had consistently called for sweeping reforms to both FRA and the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
“Sadly, on account of time, we could not present our question to the Minister of Agriculture on the floor of Parliament over the delayed payments to farmers who sold their maize to the agency,” he said.
Chanda expressed disappointment that the Minister blamed the past regime for the current challenges, arguing that Zambians had voted for change to make agriculture better, more efficient, and more rewarding for farmers.
“Our farmers do not deserve rhetoric, arrogance, or lip service. What they need and deserve is honesty, transparency, and urgency.
The ministerial statement missed an opportunity to apologize to the farmers, and more importantly, to provide a clear and structured timeline for when every last farmer will receive their payment,” Chanda said.
He urged the government to adopt a more structured and time-sensitive approach to farmer payments, stressing that the Ministry of Agriculture and FRA should take responsibility and inspire confidence among farmers nationwide.
Chanda reiterated that comprehensive reforms in both the Ministry and FRA were necessary, warning that without decisive action, Zambia risks undermining its food security and the livelihoods of the very people who feed the nation.
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