Government Praises Farmer for Bumper Maize Crop

The government has urged farmers to continue maize production at a large scale, calling the K340 per 50kg bag purchase price as a reward for farmers’ efforts and an incentive to increase maize production. 

With the maize harvest already predicted to hit 3.6 million tonnes this year, the government sees increased maize production as a positive step towards achieving the government’s long-term target of 10 million metric tonnes in future harvests, as part of the country’s economic growth plan. 

The steady rise reflects the government’s long-term commitment to boosting the agricultural sector and to farmers. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Mutolo Phiri, was interviewed by UPND Media as a representative of the government, to comment on the FRA announcement. He  praised the price rise as an “appreciation of the hard work of our proud Zambian farms” and “what will stimulate production”. 

Farmers have also commended the government for announcing the maize purchase price for the 2025 Crop Marketing Season.

In a radio interview with Byta FM News, several small-scale farmers said they appreciated the FRA’s insistence the farmers supply their own households before selling. The Choma-based farmers stated that the K340 price for a 50kg bag of maize is a fair offer that enables them to achieve a good turnover.

Another farmer told Byta that the increased price strikes a balance between promoting food security and stabilising maize production as a profitable venture. 

Some farmers expressed their concern that the higher maize value prices could lead to higher mealie meal prices, but in his address with UPND Media later on in the day, Mr Phiri said that the only realistic way to reduce mealie meal prices is to boost production at all levels of society.

Stakeholders’ reaction to the FRA announcement has been largely optimistic. Whilst Zambia Small Scale Farmers Network urges farmers to consider exporting a portion of their produce to increase their profit, the Millers Association Zambia says, “the announced price is fair”, adding that, “Millers will also buy maize from farmers, approximately 1.8 metric tonnes” (Phoenix News).