FRA SECURES MAIZE IN KASEMPA

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has clarified that all purchased grain in Kasempa is safe and did not get soaked with the rains the area experienced last week.

FRA Public Relations Coordinator, John Chipandwe, said all the grain purchased from farmers was secured and covered under tarpaulins at the time rains started.

Some farmers had complained that their maize was soaked as they were waiting to sell it to the FRA at Kasempa depot last week after unexpected rains. Mr Chipandwe also explained that the maize which was affected last week on Monday night, was for a few farmers who took their grain for sale and it happened before the transactions took place.

He stated that the FRA always secures the purchased grain for national reserves in order to protect it from harsh weather and other effects that could affect the quality of the grain. "So, our maize was secured and covered under tarpaulins but the few bags affected were for a few farmers and the satellite depot affected was the one situated in Kasempa Central," Mr Chipandwe said.

Mr Chinpandwe said after the rains, FRA officers on the ground requested the owners of the maize to expose the grains to sunlight and air so that it could dry before the sale

He said according to officers at the depot, the affected farmers were given four days starting Tuesday, August 23rd in which to expose their grain to sunlight.

Mr Chipandwe said the maize would be assessed using a moisture meter to ascertain whether the grain was fully dry and safe for the FRA to buy and store for long term use.

"The reason we do this is because we want to ensure that the purchased grain is within acceptable standards of moisture content which is 12.5," he said.