FRA low price will cost them, says civic leader
THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) may not buy any maize in Chongwe due to the low price and mode of payment, a civic leader in Chongwe has observed.
Lwimba ward councillor, Vincent Mwachiyeya made the observation in an interview yesterday that the low price by FRA would cost them.
According to him the depots in his area had not even purchased a single bag by press time.
He said that briefcase buyers were buying the commodity at K115 cash as compared to the FRA price of K110 coupled with late payment. He observed that farmers were opting to sell the commodity to briefcase buyers who had a better price and instant cash. He appealed to the government to rethink the price if they are to meet the purchase quantity target.
Another civic leader of Katoba ward, Charles Moyo disclosed that FRA had not even set up a depot in his area which had left the farmers with no option but to sell the commodity to briefcase buyers who were buying the maize at K96.00 per 50 kg bag.
He said that the late arrival of FRA in his area would negatively affect the ability to meet the target.
Mr. Moyo also observed that the low price by FRA was another factor because farmers were spending more on fertilizer and as such the maize price was too low for them. He appealed to the government to consider raising the price to meet the cost of growing the maize.
And another councillor of Manyika ward, Runner Shiyala observed FRA may not buy any maize from his area because they had not even started buying the commodity despite them announcing their arrival. He said that FRA had not reported in the area forcing farmers to transport the commodity to millers in Lusaka.