• Some millers have continued making maize purchase applications to FRA.
• FRA is no longer selling maize.
• Millers should buy the commodity directly from farmers or from the open market.

Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has advised millers countrywide to buy maize directly from farmers or the open market while the commodity is still available in order to sustain their operations as the crop marketing season progresses.

Agency Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe said in a statement that FRA is no longer selling the crop but some millers have continued making maize purchase applications to the institution.

Mr. Chipandwe stated that this is despite the on-going crop marketing season and stable supply of the grain on the domestic market.

“In this regard, the Agency wishes to notify millers that it is no longer selling maize and further wishes to urge them to buy the commodity directly from farmers or from the open market while the commodity is still available,” Mr. Chipandwe stated.

He added that the Agency does not expect millers to be making maize purchase applications because the crop marketing season is currently in progress.

Mr. Chipandwe further said FRA is aware that players in the milling sector are buying the commodity from the local market.

“Further, the Agency wishes to remind millers that they are a key stakeholder that play a critical role in sustaining national food security and should therefore always buy adequate maize stocks to sustain their business operations instead of depending on national strategic food reserves,” he said.