Maravi

Farmers press FRA to purchase maize before polls

Farmers press FRA to purchase maize before polls
By Correspondent
Wed 17 Aug. 2011, 07:40 CAT

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Solwezi is under pressure from farmers who want their produce purchased before the September 20 elections.

According to Solwezi District Farmers Association chairperson Amos Watambwa, the maize marketing exercise had turned political in that farmers feared that their maize would not be bought after next month’s general elections.

Watambwa said the farmers had so far delivered 438,000 50-kilogramme bags of maize to 15 Solwezi FRA depots.

But North Western Province permanent secretary Fabian Mumba told the media in Solwezi that the government purchase of maize would run up to October 31 for maize and November 30 for rice.

Mumba said the government had sufficient resources to manage the stock and FRA had opened up two extra depots in Solwezi and Kasempa and one each in Mufumbwe and Mwinilunga.

North Western Province FRA regional marketing coordinator Sunday Mwelwa said his office had so far received K7.86 billion of the projected K28 billion for the purchase of the 438,000 bags.

Labels: FRA

posted by MrK @ 4:12 PM