Hengari demands clarity on Equalisation Fund Implementation for northern farmers
Staff Writer Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Inna Hengari has raised concerns over the implementation and accountability of the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) Price Equalisation Fund, calling for clear timelines, oversight mechanisms and structural safeguards to ensure the policy delivers tangible benefits to farmers. Hengari submitted formal questions to the minister of agriculture, […]
Staff Writer
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Inna Hengari has raised concerns over the implementation and accountability of the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) Price Equalisation Fund, calling for clear timelines, oversight mechanisms and structural safeguards to ensure the policy delivers tangible benefits to farmers.
Hengari submitted formal questions to the minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform, Inge Zaamwani, on Wednesday and is expected to receive a response in the National Assembly next Thursday.
While acknowledging the government’s commitment to operationalising the Equalisation Fund as a positive step, Hengari warned that persistent structural challenges in the livestock sector continue to undermine farmer incomes and market access.
“A commitment to operationalise the Equalisation Fund for farmers in the Northern Communal Areas is a positive development; however, significant concerns remain regarding implementation, accountability, and the government’s ability to deliver on this undertaking,” Hengari stated.
She pointed to long-standing inequalities affecting farmers in northern regions, including lower cattle prices compared to commercial farming areas, limited access to formal markets and the continued economic impact of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, commonly known as the Red Line.
