Mwinilunga constituency Member of Parliament Newton Samakayi has contested the proposed reduction in satellite depots by the Food Reserve Agency FRA in his constituency.
FRA is proposing to reduce the number of satelite depots from 21 to 10 but Mr. Samakayi wonders how that is possible when the district is currently facing challenges in all aspects of maize storage, buying and delivery to nearest depots.
Mr. Samakayi says it is inconceivable for FRA to birth such an idea considering that Mwinilunga district is the second largest producer of maize in the the whole entire Northwestern province after Kasempa District.
He further wonders why FRA wants to take such a decision for a district with a massive land mass of 18, 763 Square Kilometers a situation which he says is already proving a challenge for farmers to move their maize to mobile markets.
Mr. Samakayi has reminded FRA management that the UPND government was elected into office by the Zambian people on the basis of improving the agriculture sector which was destroyed by the former regime hence birthing such ideas would be tantamount to working against the new dawns campaign promises.
Mr. Samakayi has since warned FRA management against taking such a decision saying neither him as Member of Parliament nor farmers in the district will accept such a proposal stating that going ahead with such an idea will only breed confusion.
The Mwinilunga law maker says instead of proposing to reduce satellite depots, FRA should instead be thinking of increasing the same and assuring the people of Mwinilunga of how it will best handle challenges previous experienced in past maize marketing seasons.
Mr. Samakayi has since written to FRA MANAGEMENT over the matter and copied the same letter to the Minister’s of Agriculture and Northwestern including Mwinilunga DistrictCommissioner and the districts Council Chairman.
