Ministry of Agriculture says it is too early to predict whether the Food reserve agency will meet its target to purchase 300,000 metric tons of grain during the ongoing marketing season.
Minister in Charge Michael Katambo explained to Money FM in an interview that the competition for maize on the ground is stiff as there are many grain buyers offering competitive prices.
Mr. Katambo is however confident that the agency will manage to procure the grains required for national food strategic reserves in the current marketing season.
Since the grain marketing season opened from the first week of July to date the Food reserve agency has spent over K94 million to procure over 51,000 metric tonnes out of the targeted 300,000 metric tonnes.