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THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has expressed confidence in this year’s maize production that will see the purchase of 1 million tonnes as targeted.
FRA executive director, Chola Kafwabulula said there were 53,000 tonnes of maize carried over from last year and the firm had purchased more than 323,000 tonnes in the on-going crop marketing season.Mr Kafwabulula said the 53,000 tonnes carryover stocks could be more than sufficient for any disaster or humanitarian need.He said Zambia was not in a lean period as stakeholders like millers could approach the FRA for maize because there was so much grain on the market.“With those figures and given that there is no pressure on the FRA stocks from the millers, we are more than food secure as a country.“There’s nothing to worry about but of course we have to meet the target (one million tonnes) that Government has given us,” Mr Kafwabulula said.
He said when going into a new purchasing season, FRA ensures that it has sufficient carryover stocks in case of any eventuality.
