The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has said it cannot begin purchasing maize from farmers because moisture content in the newly harvested crop remains too high for safe long-term storage. The agency’s decision has received backing from the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ).
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, FRA board chairperson Suresh Desai said the agency will only commence buying maize once moisture levels fall to 12.5 per cent or below, the standard required for safe storage. He said FRA is fully prepared to begin the 2026/2027 crop marketing season, but quality and food safety must take precedence.
According to recent nationwide surveys, moisture levels in newly harvested maize remain above the acceptable threshold. The highest recorded level stands at 18.14 per cent, while the lowest is 13.57 per cent, giving an average moisture content of approximately 15.8 per cent, well above the required standard.
Desai and FRA vice-chairperson Richard Lisimba warned that storing maize with excessive moisture increases the risk of spoilage and the development of aflatoxins, harmful toxins that pose serious health risks to both humans and livestock. They said the delay is necessary to safeguard food quality rather than the result of administrative challenges.
ZNFU president Zvhikonyo Mahombe said the union supports FRA’s decision to enforce moisture standards, describing them as essential for maintaining food safety. However, he urged the agency to announce maize and paddy rice buying prices without further delay so that farmers can make informed decisions on marketing, storage and transportation.
Mahombe noted that the absence of an official buying price has left some farmers vulnerable to exploitation by informal buyers during the post-harvest period. He said while quality standards must be upheld, timely price announcements are equally important to protect producers.
Grain Traders Association of Zambia spokesperson Yotam Mkandawire also backed FRA’s decision, saying preventing aflatoxin contamination should remain a priority. National Association for Smallholder Farmers in Zambia (NASFAZ) executive director Frank Kayula similarly urged farmers to remain patient, noting that FRA buying prices are generally more favourable than those offered by informal traders.
Desai said FRA has completed preparations for the marketing season by establishing 1,749 satellite buying depots across the country. The agency has recruited 3,498 buying depot clerks and an equal number of security guards to support operations once purchasing begins.
He added that seven million empty grain bags have already been distributed to districts, while another 23 million bags remain in central storage for deployment as demand increases.
The FRA has also introduced a fully digital payment system under which farmers will be paid exclusively through mobile money or bank transfers, eliminating cash payments. Desai said the move is intended to improve efficiency, enhance transparency and eliminate the long queues that characterised previous marketing seasons.
Zambia is expected to harvest approximately 5.1 million metric tonnes of maize during the 2025/2026 farming season, compared with 3.6 million metric tonnes recorded in the previous season. The anticipated bumper harvest is expected to strengthen national food security and create an exportable surplus once moisture levels meet the required standard and grain purchases commence.
