More than 70 farmers in Kasempa had their maize soaked at the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depot Monday evening while waiting for their turn to sell their maize to government.
Kasempa, just like other towns across the country experienced some rainfall on the said evening.
The affected farmers complained that they have been waiting for a long time to have their maize weighed by FRA personnel at the depot.
One of the affected farmers identified as, Zachariah Mukobola revealed that all his maize had been soaked following the heavy downpour.
“I brought about 32 bags of maize for sale here at the depot, and I have been here for almost a month now and am still waiting to be attended to. But last night, all my maize was soaked by the rains,” said Mr. Mukobola.
Another farmer, Memory Kajoba said all her 40 bags of maize were soaked due to the heavy rains.
She said FRA could not help because they do not have enough tents to help cover her maize.
“And we have no option but to start drying it up if we are to sell it to the agency,” she said.
Jonas Kajimalwendo, another affected farmer attributed the slow pace by FRA to lack of manpower at satellite depots.
“The biggest challenge is shortage of manpower, most depots are understaffed,” he said.
