President Hakainde Hichilema has emphasized the urgent need to raise the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) maize purchase target from 500,000 metric tonnes to nearly 1 million metric tonnes, a move aimed at bolstering national food security.

During a grain financing meeting held at State House with the Grain Traders Association of Zambia, financial institutions, the FRA, and the Ministry of Agriculture, President Hichilema pointed out that the current target of 500,000 metric tonnes falls short of ensuring food stability.

He highlighted the critical nature of maintaining sufficient maize stocks to prevent dependence on imports during food scarcity periods. Furthermore, he expressed concern for farmers who have positively responded to the government’s call to ramp up maize production yet find themselves without a dependable market.

The President stressed that both the government and private sector must collaborate to meet the country’s annual maize demand, which is estimated at around 2.5 million metric tonnes. He mentioned that any surplus maize should ideally be exported as mealie meal and other value-added products, such as stock feed, rather than as unprocessed grain.

In addition, President Hichilema shared that the government is striving to create a structured and reliable market for farmers, with a focus on both regional and Chinese markets for maize exports. He also expressed his concerns regarding the sluggish pace of irrigation development in certain regions, despite the availability of water harvesting infrastructure like the Mwombeshi Dam.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo announced that farmers have already deposited approximately 350,000 metric tonnes of maize, indicating that the FRA is likely to meet its current target in the coming weeks. He urged the private sector to step in and purchase the surplus grain.

Additionally, Tembwe Mutungu, the acting Chairperson of the Grain Traders Association, called on the government to tackle the issue of low maize prices in rural areas, where maize is currently being purchased at just 4 kwacha per kilogram—well below the FRA’s floor price of 8 kwacha per kilogram.