The Ministry of Agriculture has authorised the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to immediately commence the purchase of non – genetically modified grade A white maize from individuals and organisations.

 The authorisation is one of the Ministry’s response to President Hakainde Hichilema’s declaration of the drought in Zambia as a National Disaster and Emergency in February this year.

According to a statement issued to ZANIS FRA Public Relations Coordinator, John Chipandwe, FRA Executive Director, Mwansa Chamatete, stated that the Agency is ready to purchase the maize form farmers at K330 for a 50Kg bag and K6, 600 per metric tonne.

Mr Chamatete has therefore, encouraged farmers countrywide holding maize grain which meets the standards set by law, to start delivering their produce to the nearest FRA main holding depot.

“Pursuant to Section 22 (1); (2) (a), (b) and (c) of the Food Reserve Act No. 6 of 2020 Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has with immediate effect authorised FRA to start buying non-genetically modified grade A white maize from any individual or organisation on the local market. Any individual or organisation with white maize can deliver the commodity to the nearest FRA Main Holding Depot countrywide and payment will be made within the shortest possible time upon processing of documentation,” he stated.

Mr Chamatete added that the Agency is also buying non-genetically modified white maize on the Zambia Commodity Exchange (ZAMACE) platform, an online, transparent marketplace for the trading of agricultural commodities, certification of storage sites, grading and valuation of stored commodities under warehouse receipts, as well as an enabler for the financial sector to finance warehouse receipts.

He said the response measures are supplementary interventions, in addition to the annual crop marketing season, which entails the buying of crops from small scale farmers aimed at replenishing the national strategic food reserves to ensure sustained national food security.