Government says it will address financial challenges community members are facing when purchasing maize from community sales under the food reserve agency (FRA)
Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Yvonne Mpundu explained during her tour of maize sheds in selected districts in Southern and Central provinces, that the most common challenge is not the availability of maize but finances to purchase the maize for home consumption.
“This is a challenge the government will not ignore but will need to address as a matter of emergency whereas reports of maize shortages are artificial and false, she stated.
Ms. Mpundu said everyone is affected by the drought and it has negatively affected financial abilities to most households which has put them at risk of not managing a meal in a day therefore, government will be dealt with the challenge immediately.
The PS further stated that most of the sheds she visited have enough stocks of maize to cater for home consumption and are being purchased at K230 per 50 kilogram bag of maize.
During her courtesy call on Mazabuka district Commissioner, Oliver Mulomba the permanent secretary appreciated the efforts rolled out by the district leadership to ensure community sales are in line with government directive to ensure no one dies of hunger during the drought crisis.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mulomba has established four more maize selling points to bring the number to 8 depots in the district
“The district engaged the Food Reserve Agency on the need to have more depots opened to reduce distances covered by community members when they want to purchase maize, so we added 4 points,” the DC said.
The district Commissioner said this is in response to complaints from the community that they were covering long distances and paying more money on transport in the face of financial challenges.
He said the new selling points are Konkola, Mbaya Musuma, Munjile and Kalama selling points from the initial Chakola covering the eastern part of the district.
He further elaborated that there is Mazabuka main depot in the Central part of the district, on the western side of the district is Mwanachingwala depot and Chivuna depot in Magoye constituency.
However, Mr. Mulomba also expressed disappointment that some unscrupulous members of the community have taken advantage of the cheap maize from the food reserve agency and are illegally buying in bulk, restocking and reselling at a higher price which the government is discouraging.
The district commissioner recalled an incident that happened in Kaleya community where authorities pounced on a named community member that stocked FRA maize in plastic drums after purchasing from the agency.
Mr. Mulomba stated that such incidents are common but government will put strict measures through the local leadership and civic leaders to ensure everyone benefits from the favorable price of maize sold by FRA.
