Some farmers who sold maize to FRA, the Food Reserve Agency in Chipata have accused the agency of lying over payment.
Speaking to Breeze News, the farmers from Mutaya area indicated that FRA has failed to pay them for about a month and two weeks.
One of the farmers, Mathews Phiri says that the farmers are shocked that FRA has not made payment, when it promised to make payments two weeks after farmers deliver the maize to satellite depots.
Mr. Phiri wondered why briefcase buyers, who are buying the maize at the same price as FRA, are able to make prompt payments.
He expressed concern that the price of fertilizer was already as high as 300 Kwacha per 50 kilogramme bag and that any further delay would make the inputs more expensive.
And FRA Eastern A Manager, Esau Sakala says that FRA is making every effort to pay the farmers.
Mr. Sakala says that the FRA had already made some payments to some farmers in Chipata two weeks ago, adding that more funds will soon be available.