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(LUSAKATIMES) Govt would not dissolve FRA - Chituwo

Govt would not dissolve FRA - Chituwo
February 4, 2009

Parliament heard today that the state has has no immediate plans to dissolve the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and revert to the defunct National Agriculture Marketing Board (NAMBOARD).

Agriculture Minister, Brian Chituwo told Parliament, today, that government has been meeting with the FRA management to discuss important matters to make the agency more effective.

Dr. Chituwo was responding to a question raised by United Party for National Development (UPND) Choma Central Member of Parliament (MP) George Chazangwe who wanted to know whether government has plans to dissolve the FRA and bring back NAMBOARD.

The Agriculture Minister said the FRA has not failed to deliver to the expectations of the people of Zambia adding that for this reason there was no need to dissolve the agency.

He said programmes have been put in place to make sure that FRA does not fail the people of Zambia.

And Dr. Chituwo also said the government had put in place a process to procure as much local maize as possible this year.

He also added that measures are being put in place to empower small scale farmers in the country to eradicate hunger.

Dr. Chituwo said the government does not get refunded by the FRA but continues to subsidize in order to make the agency keep moving and deliver to the people of Zambia.

The Minister has also since encouraged the FRA to consider also purchasing other commodities other than maize to give to millers in the country.

ZANIS/AJN/ENDS/MM

Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, FRA, GEORGE CHAZANGWE, NAMBOARD

posted by MrK @ 1:57 AM