• FRA has so far bought 534, 333.30 metric tonnes of Grade A white maize.
• Purchased maize is equivalent to 10, 686, 666, 900 x 50 kg bags of maize.
• FRA will continue buying maize until 31st October 2021.

Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has disclosed that it has met its targeted 500, 000 metric tonnes of maize for national reserves during this year’s ongoing crop marketing season.
Agency Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe revealed to Money FM News that FRA has so far bought 534, 333.30 metric tonnes of Grade A white maize, indicating a percentage achievement rate of 106.87 percent as at Thursday 26th August, 2021.
Mr. Chipandwe stated that the Agency has since paid out over K1.2 billion to small scale farmers that supplied their maize to FRA while some are still being paid.
“This is equivalent to a total of 10, 686, 666 x 50kg bags of white maize worth K1, 602, 999, 900 out of which K1, 211, 521, 500 has already been paid out to small scale farmers that delivered their maize to FRA depots,” Mr. Chipandwe said.
He however said FRA will continue buying maize until 31st October 2021, despite meeting the target contrary to assertions that it has stopped buying the crop.
Mr. Chipandwe encouraged farmers to continue delivering their maize to any nearest FRA depot.
“However, the Agency is informing farmers that even though the target has been met, the Agency will continue buying maize unti 31st October, 2021 and wishes to dispel rumours indicating that the Agency has stopped buying maize since it has reached its purchase target,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chipandwe urged farmers to clean their crop from their homes before taking it to the satellite depot to prevent congestion.
Zambia’s 2020/2021 crop forecast survey indicated that maize production was expected to increase to 3,620,244 tonnes in the current agricultural season from 3,387,469 tonnes produced in the previous season.