Chipangali FRA mops up 165,000 bags of maize

THE Department of Agricultural Services in Chipangali District in Eastern Province has disclosed that over 165,000 by 50 kilogram bags of maize have been sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the area. Senior Agricultural Officer Dominic Chirwa, said during a senior management meeting that 165,000 bags sold are equivalent to 8,286 tons of maize […]

THE Department of Agricultural Services in Chipangali District in Eastern Province has disclosed that over 165,000 by 50 kilogram bags of maize have been sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the area.

Senior Agricultural Officer Dominic Chirwa, said during a senior management meeting that 165,000 bags sold are equivalent to 8,286 tons of maize from all the 13 depots across the district. 

 “Farmers have continued to flock to the depots to sell their produce as they still have a lot of maize to sell evidenced by the number of farmers still waiting to sell their maize,” said Mr Chirwa. 

He however noted that the department has encountered a challenge of briefcase buyers disadvantaging genuine farmers from selling their produce. 

“Some briefcase buyers for example are taking about 5,000 bags of maize to be sold, a situation which has disadvantaged genuine farmers who are also on the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) and are required to sell a minimum of 10 bags for them to benefit from FISP,” Mr Chirwa said.