- FRA hits 3.1 million tonnes in reserve for first time
CHISHALA MUSONDA
Kazungula
AN UNPRECEDENTED 3.1 million tonnes of maize is now held in national strategic reserves, putting the country in a position of full food security, according to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) executive director Justin Chuunka.
Speaking during an inspection of FRA’s Kabuyu satellite depot in Kazungula, Mr Chuunka described the milestone as historic, noting that the country has never previously achieved such massive reserve levels.
He assured citizens that the agency has sufficient stocks to safeguard the nation, emphasising that current reserves place Zambia well beyond basic food security thresholds.
Mr Chuunka explained that the reserves combine harvests from past and ongoing marketing seasons.
He highlighted that the agency is concurrently purchasing grain from local farmers and securely stocking it to protect against adverse weather.
To ensure high standards, FRA has deployed its property director to optimise storage capacities, while officers on the ground maintain top-tier grain handling.
Following a previous season where the agency procured 1.6 million tonnes, current operations continue to emphasise quality, with incoming supplies graded as top-tier white maize.
Local stakeholders welcomed the inspection tour while highlighting active operational demands.
Kabuyu satellite depot chairperson Teddy Mulambo reported that the facility processes roughly 2,000 bags daily across five agricultural camps.
However, he noted that a shortage of empty grain bags has slowed down purchases, leaving an estimated 20,000 bags still in the hands of farmers, prompting an appeal for urgent stock replenishment ahead of the rainy season.
Musokotwane camp agriculture committee chairman Jimmy Maiba added that high yields mean farmers require additional satellite depots to easily offload their produce.
Kazungula District Commissioner Elias Siamibila and Livingstone District Commissioner Eunice Nawa both welcomed the high-level delegation.
Mr Chuunka has proceeded with his tour of regional satellite depots to oversee the ongoing national buying process. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
