Farmers Advised To Only Sell Surplus Maize

Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo has advised farmers to only sell surplus maize as the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) continues to purchase produce from farmers. 

The minister said that household food security was vital to maintaining overall national food security. 

The announcement comes as the Ministry of Agriculture works with the Ministry of Finance to ensure suppliers for the Farmer Input Support Programme 2020/2021 are paid on time. 

Mr Katambo has said that the continued purchase of maize supplies by the FRA has been facilitated by cash payments to farmers upon receipt of product. The FRA has been paying farers on delivery using part of a 1 billion Kwacha grant made available by the government.

By Friday, the FRA had bought 130,000 metric tonnes of maize since the season started just a few weeks ago. 

Mr Katambo estimates this consignment to be worth some 287 million Kwacha.