FRA resumes maize buying in Mufumbwe

Government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has resumed buying maize from farmers in Mufumbwe District in North Western province.

 

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had last week stopped buying maize from farmers countrywide in order to take stock of the maize purchases after it had exceeded the target of 500,000 metric tonnes.

 

Mufumbwe District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO), John Phiri, said yesterday that the FRA has so far purchased 155,000 by 50 kilogramme (kg) bags of maize from farmers in Mufumbwe.

 

Mr Phiri said this was more than the 119,000 bags of maize that the agency targeted to buy in the 2013-2014 maize marketing season in Mufumbwe.

 

The DACO stated that this was because of the bumper harvest that has been recorded in the district.

 

And Mr Phiri disclosed to ZANIS that K2.5 million has been paid out to farmers in the district who sold their maize to the agency under the current marketing season.

 

He has since called on farmers that have not yet being paid to exercise patience as the agency waits for funds from government.

 

The DACO however stated that the southern part of the district was facing challenges in transporting maize.

 

Mr Phiri appealed to government to work on the roads and engage more transporters to haul the maize from the affected areas.