Some farmers in Chingola’s Kasompe area have protested after being cut off from selling maize to the Food Reserve Agency – FRA.
According to a Gazette Notice issued by FRA Secretary William Silwimba in May, the Agency announced that it would purchase 500,000 metric tonnes of white maize and 10,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice during the 2026/2027 crop marketing season, scheduled to run from 1st May to 31st October 2026.
However, FRA closed its satellite depots earlier than scheduled on 30th September 2026, after reportedly exceeding its national purchasing targets.
The affected farmers say they were banking on the official 31st October deadline. They had prepared 10 bags each to supply to FRA at Kasompe Depot in order to qualify for fertilizer under the Farmer Input Support Programme.
A farmer, Habanji Hamemo, says they were registered in the FRA books and were told not to crowd the depot but to wait until they were called via phone when it was their turn.
He says despite registering, they were cut off on grounds that the deadline had been reached without being called.
Another farmer, Monica Lesa, says she went to the Kasompe depot about five times but was repeatedly told to wait.
She complained that she wasted transport going to Kasompe and back, only to be told the line had been cut because the deadline had been reached.
The farmers further complained that they have now been told that those who did not deliver the required 10 bags will not receive fertilizer.
Edina Ndalama has alleged that some officers were demanding K500 to process her 10 bags of maize.
Meanwhile, addressing the farmers who marched at the district administration offices, District Commissioner Howard Kamwandi urged them to be patient as he will engage the District Agriculture Coordinator and FRA officers to verify their claims.
Mr. Kamwandi says he wants to be sure how many people are in the books and who were left out.
By Respite Kaoma
