By Jane Chanda
Government has assured that Zambia is food-secure for at least six months.
Chief government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa disclosed that the country had 363,000 metric tonnes of maize in the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) storage, including stocks held by the private sector, totaling 750,000 metric tonnes.
Mweetwa said President Hakainde Hichilema instructed the defense forces to intensify maize production, particularly in the Northern Circuit, adding that the government, through the FRA, engaged commercial farmers to cultivate early-maturing maize varieties.
He said these efforts aimed to secure 145,000 tonnes of maize by March 2025, with farmers promised fair compensation.
“Out of the 194,000 metric tonnes of maize imported from Tanzania, 67,000 tonnes have already been received and distributed, while over 100,000 tonnes are still in transit,” said Mweetwa.
