Government will buy all maize, farmers shouldn’t panic — Mpundu

Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Bernard Mpundu, has assured farmers not to panic when selling their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), stressing that the government was committed to purchasing all the maize produced.

Mpundu made the remarks on Thursday during a spot check of satellite depots in Mungwi and Kasama districts, according to a statement issued by Provincial Principal Public Relations Officer, Sandra Mulenga.

He acknowledged existing challenges at some depots, including inadequate marketing requisites and an insufficient number of depots across the province.

However, he said these issues were being addressed to improve the maize marketing process.

“To decongest existing depots and accommodate more farmers, 15 satellite depots were opened last week, and an additional 32 will be opened soon,” Mpundu revealed.

He commended farmers for responding positively to President Hakainde Hichilema’s call for a bumper harvest, adding that the government was committed to ensuring their efforts were rewarded.

The Permanent Secretary further directed the FRA to prioritize farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), noting their direct connection to government support.

Mpundu also issued a stern warning against corruption, emphasizing that no farmer should be asked to pay a bribe to be attended to.

“We understand that the current number of depots is not enough to handle all the maize produced, which is why the network is being expanded,” he said.

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