Govt maintains maize floor price at K75

Government has maintained the Food Reserve Agency maize floor price for the 2016/2017 marketing season at K75.00 for a 50kg bag.

Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda has told Parliament that the FRA will buy one million metric tonnes of maize of the two point eight million metric tonnes the country is expected to produce.

Mr. Lubinda says the FRA expected to enter the market at the beginning of June when the maize moisture content is expected to reach 12.5%.

He says it’s necessary to hold the maize floor price at K75.00 as the price is still attractive.

Mr Lubinda has since assured farmers that they will be paid promptly for the maize they will supply to the FRA.

And Mr Lubinda says government will allow government to government exports of maize for the 2016/2017 marketing season using the Food Reserve Agency and the private sector were possible.

He however, states that this will only be done after securing the country’s maize requirements.

Mr Lubinda adds that government has authorized the Grain Traders Association of Zambia to honor its export commitments of 167,000 metric tonnes of maize to neighboring countries.