The Food Reserve Agency has announced it will buy this season’s maize at 347 Kwacha per 50-kilogram bag, saying the price strikes a balance between rewarding farmers and protecting consumers from higher mealie meal prices.
FRA Board Chaiperon Suresh Desai says the offer price reflects farmers’ production costs while ensuring maize remains affordable for millers and ultimately consumers.
He says the agency will purchase not less than 500,000 metric tonnes of maize at K6.94 per kilogram, equivalent to K347 per 50-kilogram bag, while paddy rice will be bought at K300 per 40-kilogram bag.
FRA says all satellite depots will open on Wednesday, 29 July, with buying points established across the country to receive grain.
He has advised to clean their grain before delivery, ensure maize has a moisture content of 12.5 percent or below, present valid identification, and maintain active bank accounts as all payments will be processed digitally within three days while adding that maize that exceeds the required moisture content will be returned to farmers for further drying.
The FRA Board Chair has also noted that Zambia’s bumper harvest has strengthened national food security, leaving the country with about 1.4 million tonnes in strategic reserves, insisting that Zambia will not import maize despite warnings from climate specialists about the possible return of El Niño conditions later this year.
Mr. Desai has further dismissed suggestions that it is financially distressed, assuring farmers it is ready to finance this year’s crop purchases.
By Best Jere
