The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has successfully purchased 588,354 metric tonnes of non-genetically modified Grade A white maize from the local market during this year’s crop marketing season. This quantity is equivalent to approximately 11,767,093 fifty-kilogram bags of white maize.
As of October 9, 2024, the total cost of the purchased maize amounts to K4,186,708,686. To date, the FRA has disbursed K3,072,475,846.80 to maize suppliers, achieving a payment rate of 73 percent. Payments are being processed on a first-come, first-served basis, following deliveries to satellite depots, and the agency is working to ensure that all farmers are cleared promptly.
The crop marketing season remains active, and farmers are encouraged to continue delivering maize to depots, contributing to Zambia’s food security efforts.