BMC equipment breakdown causes farmers� panic
Zolani Kraai | Wednesday December 3, 2014 11:37
With no explanation coming forth by yesterday, the executive member of Gantsi Farmers Association, France Kanguaiko told Mmegi in a telephone interview from Makunda village that they have been waiting for BMC procurement officers since Sunday. With no word as to what caused the delay, he said farmers had been forced to paddock their cattle in hosting points.
“We have been waiting for them to come since Sunday and they are yet to explain to us the cause of the delay. Our cattle have been kept in the kraals, thirsty and hungry,” Kanguaiko said.
He added that they had made several telephone calls to BMC management to get an explanation of the cause of the delay, to no joy.
In response, the BMC Livestock Procurement Manager, Mooketsi Madome, acknowledged the delay, attributing it to weigh bridge breakdown.
“We sent an officer on Sunday to brief the farmers about the cause of the delay.
Our mobile weighbridge had a breakdown while on our way to Charleshill and we had to source another one from Gantsi, which also broke down. We have since maintained it and the procurement is ongoing,” Madome said.
“Our programme was set to start on Monday though and we only delayed for 24 hours and we have since apologised for that,” he said.
Also adding to the delay, said Madome, were some administration processes, which include the issuing of vouchers to the farmers.
“Depending on the availability of funds at the post to pay farmers, the whole process could minimally take three days,” said Madome.