The Food Reserve Agency(FRA) has deferred the announcement of this year’s maize floor price until consultations with key stakeholders are completed.
Early this week Agriculture minister, Brian Chituwo, said the floor price would be announced on Thursday.
A statement issued in Lusaka by FRA spokesperson, Mwamba Siame said the floor price will take into consideration the input of stakeholders.
Mrs. Siame said issues of supply and demand affecting the food balance sheet will also be taken into account.
She urged farmers not to rush into selling their produce cheaply.
Mrs. Siame also disclosed that the FRA will open its maize marketing season on June 1.
There have been calls for the agency to quickly announce the maize floor price to prevent small scale farmers from being exploited by briefcase traders.
In some areas such as the Southern province the traders are buying maize from farmers for as low as K25,000 for a 50 kilogramme bag.
[ZNBC]
take your time FRA, please dont rush! we will wait till you announce in your own time. Never mind the arm chair critics, thats all they know!
Am sorry to say but FRA is full of do nothings. If these punks want to start consulting now, what the heck have they been doing since last year.???? exporting and re-importing maize….this is rubbish to say the least!
#2, Engine Bbuloko you almost persuaded me.
delays at the cost of the poor people. Politics of the rich.
Namboard days are back again