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The Small-Scale Farmers Development Agency (SAFADA) has sharply criticized the Food Reserve Agency’s (FRA) newly announced maize floor price of K340 per 50kg bag, describing the K10 increment as a “mockery” and a “slap in the face” of farmers grappling with rising production costs.
SAFADA Executive Director, Boyd Moombwe, said the price adjustment was economically unviable and insensitive to the financial pressures facing both small-scale and commercial farmers during the 2024/2025 farming season.
“We are very disappointed. This price is slavery, unrealistic, and inconsiderate — especially when the average cost of producing a hectare of maize ranges from K13,000 to K18,000 for small-scale farmers, and up to K28,000 for commercial producers,” Moombwe said in a statement.
He warned that if the government did not urgently revise the FRA pricing, many small-scale farmers could abandon maize cultivation next season, putting national food security at risk.
“Government must understand that maize is not just a staple — it is a political crop. If this pricing continues, many will opt for more profitable alternatives or quit farming altogether,” he cautioned.
Moombwe challenged the UPND government to demonstrate that it was truly a “listening administration” by reconsidering the maize floor price.
“Farming is a business, not a charity. Farmers must be allowed to break even or earn a reasonable profit,” he said.
The announcement comes amid growing economic strain in the agricultural sector, with the costs of fertiliser, transport, and labour rising steeply over the past year.
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