Over 28 million Kwacha has been paid out to farmers who sold maize to FRA, the Food Reserve Agency in Eastern Province.
The Provincial Marketing Coordinator, Eugene Munkombwe confirmed this to Breeze News.
Mr Munkombwe says that the funds have been forthcoming on a weekly basis for three weeks now, and expressed confidence that all farmers will be paid before the onset of the rainy season.
He added that one million one hundred and fourteen thousand bags of maize grain, have also been purchased since the beginning of the maize marketing season.
And CDFA, Chipata District Farmer’s Association Coordinator, Virgil Malambo says that the prompt payments would help farmers acquire the necessary inputs needed for the coming farming season.
Meanwhile commenting on the money stolen from the CDFA office, Mr Malambo says the old notes that were found in the safe, were brought in by farmers, to be taken to the Bank of Zambia for exchange.
Two days ago, over 30, 000 Kwacha was stolen from the CDFA offices as well as 363, 000 worth of old notes.