Government has released an additional K2.4 billion to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Kasama District for the purchase of maize in the area.
District Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chanda disclosed the release of
funds during a District Development Coordinating Committee -DDCC- meeting held in
the Council Chamber yesterday.
Lt. Col. Chanda said the Government had so far spent about K2.2 billion to buy-off
158, 334 X 50KG bags of maize from small scale farmers in the District.
The DC said government was committed to buying all the maize produce in various
satellite depots in order to enhance food security in the District.
He also said mobile buying centres would be set up in case large stocks of maize
remain uncollected in outlying areas.
Lt. Col. Chanda has since urged farmers to not panic as the Food Reserve Agency was
determined to buy as many maize stocks as possible.
Recently, Government released K250 million for the purchase of maize from farmers in
Kasama District but the funds were exhausted following increased supply of maize by
farmers to FRA.
Meanwhile, District Agriculture and Cooperatives Coordinator Humphrey Goma has
disclosed that fertilizer for 2007-2008 farming season had arrived in the District.
Mr. Goma, however, said his office was still awaiting the deliver of maize seed
which was expected to arrive in the District by October, this year.
He has since advised farmers to start preparing their fields in readiness for this
year’s planting season.
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