6,000 Tonnes of Maize Delivered to FRA, Goal of 146,000

Commercial farmers have delivered more than 6,000 tonnes of maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) as part of the Early Maize Programme (EMP)

The delivery of non-GMO white maize is a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to alleviate the impact of the drought. The programme was launched by President Hichilema in March of this year and is led by the FRA and the Ministry of Agriculture. Operated on a contact-farming basis, the initiative provides incentives like fair pricing to encourage participation and meet production targets.

Under the EMP, 55 farmers were contracted to grow maize and improve the nation’s food security. The FRA aims to procure a total of 146,000 metric tonnes of maize, including the recent 6,000 tonne delivery. The remaining maize is expected to be delivered by the end of June, ensuring a steady supply of the grain to fill national food reserves.