Dr. Gabriel Pollen, National Coordinator of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), and Mwansa Chamatete, Executive Director of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), along with Information and Media Permanent Secretary Mr. Thabo Kawana, held a press briefing yesterday to address the nation’s food security concerns amidst the ongoing drought.
The officials underscored the New Dawn Administration’s focus on agriculture as central to the country’s food security strategy. They outlined three key interventions for maize procurement: sourcing from an early maize program, conducting mop-ups from main depots, and purchasing maize from small-scale farmers.
Currently the FRA has acquired 409,000 metric tonnes of maize. Of this, more than 307,000 tonnes came from small-scale farmers, 83,000 tonnes from early maize production by commercial farmers, and 19,000 tonnes from mop-ups. The FRA has been purchasing maize at K330 per 50 kg bag and reported strong interest from suppliers in the Northern Region.
Efforts to ensure food security include buying maize through allied millers such as the Zambia National Service and the Zambia Correctional Service. Ongoing relief programs have been aiding vulnerable populations since January, and community sales enable those unable to afford mealie meal to buy maize for milling. The FRA is collaborating with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to identify and assist vulnerable households, and the Ministry of Education’s school feeding program supports school attendance.
By July 31, 2024, the FRA had distributed 400,000 metric tonnes of maize. Additionally, USAID has contributed $20 million to Zambia through the World Food Programme (WFP).
Dr. Pollen also refuted allegations regarding a new company contracted to import 50,000 metric tonnes of maize for the DMMU at $22 million, describing the claims as baseless. The government continues to purchase maize from any willing suppliers at the set rate of K330 per 50 kg bag.
