Millers buy 400, 000 metric tonnes maize

MILLERS have bought over 400, 000 metric tonnes of maize out of the targeted 1.8 million metric tonnes during the ongoing 2019/2020 crop marketing season, Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) president Andrew Chintala has said.

Mr Chintala said millers have bought more maize than any other entity on the market. contrary to reports that they are not buying maize but waiting for Government to give them subsidised maize.

He said MAZ remains committed to meeting its target of 1.8 million tonnes and does not foresee a situation where the association will ask for maize from Government.

"Going by market trends that we have noted, we are optimistic that we will meet the target of 1.8m tonnes by the end of the marketing season and this will be adequate for both human and animal consumption," Mr Chintala said.

He said the millers are on the ground buying maize and that their presence has been felt in the market.

Mr Chintala said all members have been advised to buy enough maize for their operations.

He said contrary to views by some stakeholders that millers totally depend on the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), millers only get maize from FRA if there is price distortion or shortage of the commodity.

Mr Chintala said it was not practical that millers who are in the business of producing mealie meal would just sit and wait for Government to offload maize.

Minister of Agriculture, Michael Katambo has warned that FRA would not rescue millers who would be stuck without maize once the commodity runs out on the market.