Minister defends GMB’s proof-before-payment stance

Herald Reporter
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made has told Parliament that the Grain Marketing Board cannot pay farmers who misplaced their receipts to guard against conmen who claim payment when they did not deliver any grain.

He said this in the National Assembly while responding to questions on Government policy on the payment of farmers who misplaced their receipts, some of them dating back four years ago.

“The laws says, GMB cannot pay without proof,” said Minister Made.

However, this prompted legislators to ask why the GMB did not verify with its copy book if the farmers actually delivered the maize.

In his response, Minister Made said it was difficult for the GMB to consider every claim by farmers that they lost their receipts. He said con artists were also claiming to have delivered grain but lost their receipts.