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The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has finally set the floor price for white maize at K347 per 50-kilogramme bag for the 2026 crop marketing season and plans to purchase at least 500,000 metric tonnes from farmers.
Announcing the prices on Friday at the Mulungushi International conference centre, FRA Board Chairperson, Suresh Desai, said the agency would buy non-genetically modified Grade A white maize at K6.94 per kilogramme, while paddy rice will be purchased at K7.50 per kilogramme, equivalent to K300 per 40-kilogramme bag.
Desai said the prices were determined following consultations with farmers’ organisations, grain traders, consumer groups, financial institutions and other stakeholders.
He said the pricing took into account production costs, prevailing market conditions, national food security requirements and the need to maintain affordable mealie-meal prices.
Read more: Reason maize purchases delayed — Food Reserve Agency
“FRA shall buy non-genetically modified Grade A white maize from farmers at K6.94 per kilogramme, which translates to K347 per 50-kilogramme bag,” Desai said.
The agency plans to procure a minimum of 500,000 metric tonnes of maize and 10,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice during the marketing season, with additional purchases depending on market conditions and available storage capacity.
Desai said FRA had completed preparations for the buying season by establishing 1,749 satellite depots nationwide, which will begin operations on July 29.
He said 3,498 satellite depot clerks had been recruited and trained to manage crop purchases, while an equal number of security personnel would be engaged before the depots open.
The announcement comes after Zambia recorded a record maize harvest of 5.1 million metric tonnes in 2026, compared with 3.6 million metric tonnes harvested in 2025.
Desai said the country was also carrying over more than 1.4 million metric tonnes of maize stocks, adding that FRA had completed payments to farmers who supplied maize and paddy rice during the 2025 marketing season.
He urged farmers to ensure they have active bank accounts, mobile money wallets or e-wallets registered in their names, as all payments for crops delivered to FRA will be made through digital platforms.
Desai also advised farmers to retain adequate maize stocks for household consumption in view of the anticipated El Niño weather conditions and to deliver grain that meets the agency’s quality and moisture requirements.
He said FRA remained committed to ensuring transparent crop purchases, fair pricing and improved service delivery throughout the 2026 marketing season.
Meanwhile, FRA has announced the temporary closure of all its satellite depots across the country to allow employees to participate in the 2026 General Elections.
The temporary closure is intended to enable Satellite Depot Clerks and other FRA employees to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
In a notice issued on Tuesday by Desai, the FRA said the depots would close at 18:00 hours on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and remain shut throughout the election period.
“Normal operations will resume at 07:00 hours on Friday, August 14, 2026,” Desai said.
The Board has directed Regional Managers and other responsible officers to ensure that employees, farmers and other stakeholders are informed of the temporary closure in good time and that all necessary arrangements are made to facilitate an orderly shutdown and reopening of the depots.
The FRA also expressed appreciation to members of staff for their cooperation during the election period.
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