By Mubanga Mubanga
The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has commenced buying maize for the 2024 maize marketing season at K330 per 50kg bag.
In a press statement, FRA executive director Mwansa Chamatete reminded members of the public that the set price was not a floor price but an offer price for FRA under the principle of willing seller and willing buyer.
He stated that the buying of maize would be done on cash basis and would be done in all the FRA satellite depots around the country.
“The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has with immediate effect commenced buying Grade A non-genetically modified white maize from all the small scale farmers in all satellite depots countrywide. The Food Reserve Agency is buying a 50kg bag of white maize at K330 or K6,500 per metric tonne. The agency has endeavoured to analyse the cost for maize, current market among others and set price therefore, reflective of such consideration,” Chamatete stated.
He stated that the agency would buy the maize cash on the spot upon delivery of maize by the farmers at the the different satellite depots around the country.
He further appealed to farmers to be patriotic by selling maize to FRA, because of the drought the country experienced.
“Due to the uniqueness of this year’s marketing season because of the dynamics drought brought into play by drought, farmers are encouraged to be more patriotic and support government efforts of sustaining National Food Security. In this regard, the agency is appealing to farmers to prioritise national and household by selling excess maize to the country through FRA. By doing so farmers will be playing their role in making Zambia food secure and in sustaining the status,” stated Chamatete.
