Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Imported maize to roll in

Imported maize to roll in
December 31, 2008

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says the imported 110 metric tonnes of maize will start arriving in Zambia next month. Executive Director Anthony Mwanaumo says the agency is this week expected to complete the signing of three contracts to facilitate the importation.

Dr. Mwanaumo said one contract has already been signed while the other remaining two will be signed by the end of this week. He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka, Wednesday.

And Dr. Mwanaumo has appealed to millers that have accessed from the agency to pass on the benefits to consumers by reducing mealie-meal prices.

He said millers who have not yet reduced mealie-meal prices should emulate their contemporaries who have reduced the prices of the commodity to acceptable levels.

And National Milling Corporation says it will soon reduce mealie meal prices in line with the reduction in maize prices by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Managing Director Peter Cottan said his company submitted a letter recommending a reduction in mealie meal prices to the minister of Agriculture, Wednesday.

Mr. Cottan explained that national milling delayed in reducing the price of mealie meal because the old contract it had with the Food Reserve Agency has expired.

He also told ZNBC that his company will start buying subsidized maize from FRA starting Wednesday.

Mr. Cottan said national milling will announce a reduction in mealie meal prices after getting a feed back from government.

The Food Reserve Agency last week announced a reduction in maize prices from 63 thousand Kwacha to 55 thousand Kwacha for a fifty kilogramme bag.

Chimanga Changa Milling Company became the first Company last week to reduce price of its Mealie Meal following the reduction in the cost of Maize from FRA.
[ZNBC]

Labels: MAIZE, MILLERS, PETER COTTAN, PRICING

posted by MrK @ 7:34 AM