Maravi

There's need to transform FRA, says Matongo

There's need to transform FRA, says Matongo
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Fri 14 Oct. 2011, 13:56 CAT

THERE is immediate need to transform FRA into a national institution that would serve the Zambian people from the current maize management problems, say newly-appointed executive director David Matongo.

And industry experts have revealed that an estimated 30 per cent of the maize from last farming season could have gone to waste following intermittent rains the country has experienced in the last few days.

From the unprecedented harvest of slightly over three million metric tonnes, about 70 per cent, which is currently unsecured is at risk of going to waste.

In an interview yesterday, Matongo, the immediate past Pemba UPND member of parliament, said the expectations from both President Michael Sata and the people of Zambia were huge.

Matongo said he would "hit the ground running".

"It was a complete surprise to me and I have accepted. I am aware of the intention of the people to move FRA Food Reserve Agency and to be a national institution that will serve the people of Zambia," said Matongo who headed a number of quasi-government institutions like UBZ, Contract Haulage and Zambia State Insurance Corporation before his retirement in 1991.

"And together with the appointing authority, we will share the success or failure but failure is not an option in my view. We need to serve the Zambians."

Matongo is also the immediate-past president of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) member states of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the ACP-EU JPA. And sources in both ministry of agriculture and Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) have revealed that the maize storage situation in the country was dire.

"The minister Emmanuel Chenda has indicated that the government would go to scout for K800 billion but I am afraid that that might be a little bit too late because the quantity of maize still remaining unsecured is quite huge," the sources said.

"If the maize in most Food Reserve Agency depots are still unsecure, then be assured that in remote areas it is worse. We are staring in the face of disaster because as much as 30 per cent from last year's harvest has started geminating because of poor storage in the shades," said another source.

Labels: DAVID MATONGO, FRA, MAIZE

posted by MrK @ 4:22 PM