FRA buys 79 percent of required maize reserves

By SIMON MUNTEMBA in Ndola THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has so far bought 7.9 million 50kg bags of maize country-wide since the 2017/2018 marketing season opened two months ago, representing 79 percent of its target.

The agency plans to buy 10 Million of 50kg maize for strategic reserves in this year’s crop -marketing season. The FRA executive director Chola Kafwabulula disclosed this yesterday in Ndola when he inspected the Ndola silo which is under rehabilitation. “We have so far bought 7.9 Million bags of maize from farmers across the country valued at K475 Million and this means we have reached 79 percent,” he disclosed. Mr Kafwabulula said Eastern Province has recorded the highest purchase with 2.2 Million bags, followed by Southern Province with 1.2 Million bags of maize.

He, however, expressed confidence that FRA will soon reach its target as the purchasing exercise was going on smoothly.

Mr Kafwabulula who also toured various satellite depots said the agency was moving the commodity to safe storage facilities before rain season to avoid wastage of maize.

And Kafwabulula said FRA has engaged WahKong, a Chinese company to rehabilitate the Bwana Mkumbwa silos in Ndola at a total K 49 Million.