Government addressing empty grain bag shortage

Chitambo District Commissioner (DC) Marjory Mwape has assured farmers that the government will address the shortage of empty grain bags which is affecting Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depots across the district. Ms Mwape said the concern had been brought to the attention of the…

Chitambo District Commissioner (DC) Marjory Mwape has assured farmers that the government will address the shortage of empty grain bags which is affecting Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depots across the district.

Ms Mwape said the concern had been brought to the attention of the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and that efforts were being made to address the challenge.

She said this after visiting an FRA depot in Mpelembe area where farmers raised concerns over the shortage of empty grain bags.

The Chitambo DC observed that the shortage of empty grain bags was affecting the smooth purchase and collection of maize from farmers in various parts of the district.

“This is not only a challenge in Mpelembe but one that is affecting farmers across the district. We have brought the matter to the attention of the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Agriculture, and we will continue engaging FRA to ensure that the bags are distributed to the depots so that farmers can sell their maize without unnecessary delays,” she said.

Ms Mwape noted that the government was concerned that the shortage of bags, coupled with transport challenges in distributing them to depots, was slowing down the maize marketing exercise.

She added that the government would continue engaging relevant stakeholders to address logistical challenges affecting the maize purchasing exercise and ensure that farmers are able to sell their produce without unnecessary delays.

The development comes as farmers in Chitambo continue delivering their maize to FRA following the commencement of the crop marketing exercise, with the availability of grain bags being critical to the smooth collection and storage of the crop.