The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has purchased five hundred eighty-eight thousand three hundred fifty-four Metric Tonnes (588,354MTs) of non-genetically modified Grade A white maize from the local market during this year’s crop marketing season.
In a statement this morning, FRA Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe said the purchased quantity (588,354MTs) is equivalent to eleven million seven hundred sixty-seven thousand ninety-three by Fifty Kilogramme (11,767,093 x 50 Kg) bags of white maize.
Mr. Chipandwe noted that the cost of the purchased maize is four billion one hundred eighty-six million seven hundred eight thousand six hundred eighty-six Kwacha (K4,186,708,686) and as at 9th October, 2024.
He revealed that a total of three billion seventy-two million four hundred seventy-five thousand eight hundred forty-six-kwacha eighty ngwee (K3,072, 475,846.80) was paid out to maize suppliers representing a Seventy-three percent (73%) achievement rate.
Mr. Chipandwe said payments are currently on-going based on the principle of first-come-first served basis (following maize deliveries to satellite depots) and soon all farmers will be cleared.
He said the crop marketing season is still in progress and farmers are encouraged to continue delivering maize to any depot and play their role in making Zambia food secure.