FRA TO ANNOUNCE MAIZE PRICE ONCE MOISTURE CONTENT DROPS

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says that it will announce the crop buying price for 2026 market season as soon as the moisture content drops to 12.5 Percent and below. Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka, FRA Board Chairperson, Suresh Desai, disclosed that the latest survey…

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says that it will announce the crop buying price for 2026 market season as soon as the moisture content drops to 12.5 Percent and below.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka, FRA Board Chairperson, Suresh Desai, disclosed that the latest survey on moisture content of newly harvested maize stands at 18.4% and 14.5% which poses a risk of developing aflatoxins if stored over a long time.

 Mr Desai added that FRA has already put in place all measures aimed at ensuring that crop purchase begins immediately the moisture content reduces.

“It is essential that the stored maize has a moisture level of 12.5% and below, if the moisture is higher than this, the grain will spoil easily and even develop aflatoxins which are very dangerous to human and animal health,” said Mr Desai.

He stated that FRA will ultilise the waiting period for extensive consultation with various stakeholders, aimed at arriving at the buying price for maize and rice for this season.

Mr Desai said that close to two thousand buying depot sites have already been established and that over 3000 buying depot clerks have been trained, 23 million empty grain bags distributed and over 3000 security guards recruited to ensure security.

He added that the FRA has also established the first ever Buying Depots Management Committee, that will supervise the depots operations and address complaints that may arise during the process.

He said that FRA has directed its management to ensure that all payments should be made using the online digital platforms, in order to put a stop to the long queues experienced by farmers during the past season.

Mr Desai further urged all farmers to ensure that they have an active bank account or an active mobile money account with account details submitted to their respective district offices.

Meanwhile, the Agency is impressed with the 2025/2026 bumper harvest, with the anticipated maize crop harvest estimated at 5.1 million metric tonnes.