FRA begins hauling maize to safer facilities

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Muchinga Province has started transporting purchased maize from satellite depots to main storage facilities. This is in an effort to secure the grain reserves ahead of the rain season. Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary, Tuesday Bwalya, who…

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Muchinga Province has started transporting purchased maize from satellite depots to main storage facilities.

This is in an effort to secure the grain reserves ahead of the rain season.

Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary, Tuesday Bwalya, who inspected some storage sheds reiterated the provincial administration’s commitment to safeguarding the purchased maize from any risk.

Dr Bwalya has since assured the nation that the province will safeguard every grain purchased from local farmers.

“I wish to assure the people of Zambia that we are going to secure all the maize that we have bought in the province,” he said.

He said this when he inspected the Mwenzo storage shed in Nakonde district.

Dr Bwalya added that the provincial administration will continue to work with the FRA to secure the purchased grain.

Meanwhile, during his monitoring tour of maize purchasing at Kalungu satellite depot in Isoka, the Permanent Secretary issued a stern warning to FRA Depot Clerks against engaging in corrupt practices and allowing foreign nationals to sell maize to the agency.

Dr Bwalya emphasised that the FRA is a local market meant for local small-scale farmers who are contributing to the growth of the province’s agricultural sector.

“We want to send a strong message to all the Depot Clerks. You are buying maize on behalf of the government. We will not allow foreign nationals to sell maize at the expense of local farmers,” he said

Dr Bwalya said he has received reports that some clerks in Isoka and Nakonde districts are buying maize from foreign nationals, while some local grain traders are buying maize from Tanzania to resell to the FRA.