MAIZE PURCHASE GOING SMOOTHLY

By Mary Mwiinga:

Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo says his ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance to ensure suppliers of agro inputs for the Farmer Input Support Programme in the 2020-2021 farming season are paid on time.

Mr. Katambo has also advised farmers to ensure they only sell surplus maize because household food security is important for the country to attain national food security.

He says the Food Reserve Agency -FRA- has continued to purchase maize from farmers supplying the commodity.

Mr. Katambo says the continued purchase has been triggered by cash payment to farmers upon delivery of maize at designated depots.

He says the FRA has been paying farmers upon delivery from part of the one billion kwacha that the Ministry of Finance has so far released.

On Friday, Food Reserve Agency -FRA- Chief Executive Officer Chola Kafwabulula said the agency has bought 1-hundred and 30 thousand metric tonnes of maize since the marketing season opened a few weeks ago.

Mr. Kafwabulula said the consignment is worth 2-hundred and 87 million Kwacha.