Mwenefumbo says Karonga cotton farmers worry over Admarc’s move
Cotton farmers from Karonga Central Constituency have expressed concerns, following Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) move to suspend the buying of the commodity in the area.
Presenting the complaint on behalf of the farmers in parliament, Member of Parliament for the area, Frank Mwenefumbo said the development is worrisome as it will demoralize the farmers who worked hard in their respective farms to come up with the produces.
Mwenefumbo said the country’s biggest Agricultural Commodity trader announced the suspension since the adjustment of cotton prices in the country.
”As you know, government raised the price of cotton from K190 to K210 per kilogram, but since that time they have not provided funds for buying the same,” omplained Mwenefumbo.
The member of parliament added that the development will also delay the farmers in his constituency to start earning the fruits of their labour.
He however pleaded with government to look into the issue expeditiously.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe has assured the affected farmers of government’s commitment to sort out the issue soon.
Apart from tobacco, cotton is another cash crop the country relies upon to bring in foreign currency.
Boma lathu tayesetsani kuwathandiza alimiwa,amagwira ntchito yolemetsa ndiye tamawalipirani munthawi yake pomwe amaliza kukolora mbewuzi. Mudera likunenedwali chaka China chake mbewuyi siinagulidwe kaamba kakusanvana kwa mtsoleri wa dziko wa nthawi imeneyo ndi makampani ogula thonje. Alimi anagulitsa thonje motchipa komanso movutikira kwa mavenda enanso thonje linagonera mnyumba kaamba kosowa misika ena anangosiya osalitora kumundakonko.Chonde aboma aganizireni Makolo athuwa ambiri aiwo ndiokalamba kwambiri,enanso akagulitsa thonjero amakaguliratu feteleza kukonzekera ulimi wachaka cha mawa.
Mr Chazale, you amaze me. Does it not mean that these farmers had enough money to marry several wives in their villages? They could afford to maintain their wives and children, i guess. How is this the issue of low prices? Don’t you think that if they refrained from marrying several wives they could have invested?
May be our farmers need education to be indeed real farmers. The need to understand that they are in business like all other businesses. Our farmers live from hand to mouth because of lack of knowledge on business management (farm management)
am dpp member mwenefumbo gud observation i like that we nid pipo who can stand with poor pipo other mps emulate this great guesture fight for ur pipo tell government what aught to be done in gud manner
Marketing boards had been the colonial way of suppressing native producers. This had continued during post independence. Farmers have remained slaves to these boards.
The modern way is for government to empower these farmers by forming cooperatives and advancing them with a loan for cotton ginneries. Then link them to markets where ADMARC is selling.
No fwi fwi for ADMARC
Frank i can see the change in you this time around..this is a constructive argument and this is what we need.. development first before politics
Pa nkhani ya za ulimi ziko lamalawi ndilovutilapo. Boma silifuna kupindulisa alimi limafuna kuti lizisaukisabe alimio. Anthu kuvutika kwa myezi 6 koma samawaganizira olo pang’ono pomwee kuonaso mitengoyo yomwe amagulirayo siyoyenerera. Asogoleri muwaganizire alimi nawoso ndi anthu monga inu. Ngati siziwayendera alimiwo nawoso amakhumudwa chonde ganizirani alimi pa malawi pano.
These cotton farmers in Karonga have been abused since time immemorial.The prices have been very low.The only benefit for this farmers has been to buy an ox cart,bicycles and marrying several wives in their villages.It is only middlemen who have made a fortune from this.Most of these farmers are old than their real age for slaving in their cotton fields for any benefit heavily burnt by the unforgiving sun.