Slow bank procedures blamed for delays in paying farmers who sold maize to the Food Reserve Agency.

The Food Reserve Agency FRA, says slow bank procedures have contributed to delays in paying farmers who sold maize to the agency.
Vice Chairperson of the FRA Board, Allan Sakala says that interbank systems when transferring money have resulted in farmers delaying to get payment.
Mr. Sakala says that the decision by government to increase the amount of maize to be bought from 500,000 metric tonnes to 1 million metric tonnes also provided another challenge because FRA had to look for more money.
Speaking during a live radio programme on Breeze FM this morning, Mr. Sakala however, said that FRA will pay all farmers before the end of this year.
He explained that from maize purchase worth 247 billion Kwacha in Eastern Province, FRA has so far paid out 190.8 billion Kwacha.
And speaking during the same programme, FRA Regional Marketing Coordinator, Godfrey Munyoro revealed that FRA has this marketing season fired six workers for failing to perform.
Mr. Munyoro however, said that FRA has not recorded any case of corruption in the 2012 maize marketing system.