The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has welcomed the Food Reserve Agency’s (FRA) decision to increase the buying prices for maize and paddy rice for the 2026/27 marketing season.
The FRA will buy a 50-kilogramme bag of maize at K347, while a 40-kilogramme bag of paddy rice will fetch K300.
The ZNFU says the two-percent increase in the maize buying price from last season provides farmers with a steady and predictable price signal, which it believes will encourage increased production and support investment at farm level.
The Union has also commended the FRA’s commitment to pay farmers directly through their mobile money or bank accounts, saying timely payments will help farmers access their money without queuing at FRA payment points.
ZNFU President Zvhikhinyo Mahombe says the Union will continue engaging Government and other stakeholders to ensure efficient procurement, storage, processing and market access.
The ZNFU says the five million metric tonnes of maize produced this season is only the beginning, with Zambia targeting 10 million metric tonnes in the future.
By Rachel Mumba
