The Food Reserve Agency Public Relations Coordinator has disclosed that as of 28th August 2024, the Food Reserve Agency has purchased Four Hundred Twenty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred Forty-Eight Metric Tons (423,848MTs) of Grade A non-genetically modified (non-GMO) white maize against the country’s annual maize consumption of about about 2.8m tons.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times Food Reserve Agency Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe said, the quantity of the maize purchased so far is equivalent to Eight Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Eight Fifty-kilogramme bags of maize.
“The total value of the purchased maize as at the indicated date above was Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Four Hundred and Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Kwacha (K2, 797,402,740.00)” he disclosed.
Chipandwe further explained that their target for this year was to buy 300,000 Metric tonnes of non-GMO white maize, equivalent to Six Million Fifty-kilogramme bags of maize for National Strategic Food Reserves.
“Due to the drought situation, the Agency was directed to buy more maize in order to adequately replenish National Strategic Food Reserves for sustained domestic and National Food Security.” He said
Chipandwe further stated that as of 28th August 2024 the initial budget had been exceeded and the Agency purchased 423,848 MTs of maize representing 132.8% of their target of 300,000 MTs.
In this regard, knowing how important maize is being our staple crop, the Agency will continue buying more maize from farmers in order to restock the National Food Reserves.
Furthermore, Chipandwe called upon farmers in the Provinces that were not affected by droughts to be more patriotic and sell their excess produce to the Government through FRA.
“The Agency believes that right now, the Northern part of Zambia is the food basket hence the need for excess maize to be sold to the Agency, which will then be transported to the other half of the country to help in feeding residents of the drought-affected provinces.” He explained.
Chipandwe added that once this is done, the Agency is optimistic that the risk of food insecurity will be curbed and no one will die of hunger.
