THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY – FRA – HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT THIS MARKETING SEASON PURCHASE MAIZE AT K340 PER 50-KILOGRAM BAG.
FRA BOARD CHAIRPERSON, SURESHI DESAI, SAYS THE PRICE WAS SET FOLLOWING WIDE CONSULTATIONS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS.
THESE INCLUDE THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, THE MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA, THE ZAMBIA COOPERATIVE FEDERATION, AND THE GRAIN TRADERS ASSOCIATION AMONG OTHERS.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS BRIEFING IN LUSAKA TODAY, MR. DESAI REVEALED THAT THE AGENCY TARGETS TO PURCHASE 543 THOUSAND METRIC TONNES OF MAIZE AND 10 THOUSAND METRIC TONNES OF RICE THIS SEASON.
HE ADDED THAT A 40-KILOGRAM BAG OF RICE WILL BE BOUGHT AT 300 KWACHA.
HE HOWEVER SAYS THAT 1,428 SATELLITE DEPOTS HAVE BEEN OPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO FACILITATE THE BUYING PROCESS, CREATING OVER 2,000 JOBS.
AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS (NASFA) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FRANK KAYULA, SAYS THE MOVE BY THE FRA WILL HELP FARMERS TO MAKE PROFIT FROM THEIR PRODUCE.
HE HOWEVER SAYS THE AGENCY SHOULD HAVE ANNOUNCED THE PRICE EARLY BECAUSE SOME FARMERS HAVE ALREADY MADE LOSSES AS THEY HAVE BEEN SELLING THE COMMODITY AT A CHEAPER PRICE TO BRIEFCASE BUYERS.
MEANWHILE, MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA (MAZ) PRESIDENT, ANDREW CHINTALA, SAYS THE PRICE IS FAIR.