Some vendors are swindling farmers who sale their farm produce at the second class trading area in Chipata.
The vendors who are using fake measuring scales are also putting stones under the scales to reap off the farmers.
A check by Breeze News at Down Shops yesterday observed that farmers who sale their crops to the vendors are not aware that they are being swindled.
The farmers are being told by the unscrupulous vendors that their farm produce will be bought at a higher price without knowing that the vendors temper with their scales.
The products which the vendors are buying include beans, soya beans, sunflower and rice which are being bought between four to six kwacha per kilogram.
To attract the unsuspecting farmers, the vendors increase the buying prices to between 5 and 7 kwacha per kilogram.
An eye witness who spoke to Breeze News on condition of anonymity says the trend has been going on for some time and asked for government intervention.