Food agency laments delays in purchase of white maize, names Northern, Luapula provinces as worst hit

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has reportedly purchased 102,578.27 metric tonnes of white maize so far since the commencement of the 2025 crop marketing season.

The agency has also attributed the delay in purchasing of maize in certain areas in the country to low moisture grain content and not reaching the recommended percentage of 12.5 percent.

FRA Board Chairperson, Surishi Desai, told Journalists during a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday that the agency had also not purchased any paddy rice despite having a target of 10,000 metric tonnes during this season.

“In light of this development, the Food Reserve Agency has started buying the designated crops (Maize and Rice) in 829 Satellite depots across the country,” he said

Desai stated that the number of satellite depots was constantly being reviewed and increased as acceptable parameters were attained.

He announced that the average grain moisture content at national level was 13.1 percent, but that the situation was still bad in Northern, North Western and Luapula Provinces where the average grain moisture content was still 14 percent.

Desai attributed the development to the late departure of the rains and relatively cool moist air in the regions.

“However, Lusaka, Central, Southern, Western Provinces and some districts on the Copperbelt Province, Muchinga and Eastern Provinces have recorded grain moisture content averaging 12.5 percent,” he highlighted.

Desai assured that the agency was consistently monitoring the grain content through its network of depots across the country.

He stated that the agency would ensure that all marketable surplus maize and paddy rice was purchased from farmers for national strategic food reserves.

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