FRA warns against ‘premature’ maize sale

SUN BUSINESS writes THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will start buying maize when the grain moisture content reduces to the required level of 12.5 per cent and appealed to famers not to sell their grain at give-away-prices. Additionally, the FRA has urged farmers to prioritise household food security as they begin to harvest their crops […]

FRA warns against ‘premature’ maize sale
SUN BUSINESS writes THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will start buying maize when the grain moisture content reduces to the required level of 12.5 per cent and appealed to famers not to sell their grain at give-away-prices. Additionally, the FRA has urged farmers to prioritise household food security as they begin to harvest their crops and only sell the excess grain. FRA Public Relations Coordinator, John Chipandwe, said his organisation would get into the market soon. “Farmers interested in selling their produce to the Agency should take note that the Agency will enter the market once the moisture content of maize reaches the required moisture level of 12.5 percent,” he said. He further urged farmers countrywide to ensure that they negotiated for competitive prices and not sell their produce at giveaway prices as was currently being reported. Mr Chipandwe implored farmers countrywide to store sufficient food for domestic use before selling any of their produce to interested buyers as national food security begun at household level. He also advised the farmers to reflect on the previous farming season and draw lessons from the drought experienced and stock up sufficient food for future use.  “In as much as the country is likely to record a bumper harvest for the 2019/2020 farming season, the Agency wishes to remind farmers of the ever changing climatic weather pattern and is encouraging them to plan ahead and store enough food for their households,” he said.  Mr Chipandwe, however, thanked farmers that had sold their crops to the FRA in the past for their contribution in making the country food secure. He indicated that with adequately stocked national strategic food reserves, the FRA would be able to respond to national emergencies such as floods, drought, mealie meal shortages or high mealie meal prices.  He, therefore, called on all the farmers to play their role in helping Zambia become food secure by selling part of their excess produce to the FRA which was mandated to manage national strategic food reserves. The FRA, he said, was responding to the situation in Mpongwe where there are reports of rampant theft of maize from commercial farmers which was consequently being sold to unscrupulous traders. The Sun