CSO-SUN saddened by reports of maize going to waste

The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance is saddened by reports of maize going to waste in some parts of the country due to the damaged grain bags caused by prolonged exposure to heat from the sun.

Reports from Eastern, Northern and Muchinga Provinces among others indicate that some farmers have spent about two months at Food Reserve Agency depots waiting to be supplied with empty FRA grain bags to enable them sell the commodity to the Agency.

CSO-SUN Country Coordinator Mathews Mhuru says the development is a threat to both household and national food security.

Mr. Mhuru notes that Zambia has for years been grappling with food insecurity and high malnutrition levels, therefore seeing the much needed food going to waste in such a manner is disheartening.

He has urged the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to immediately supply the affected farmers with empty grain bags to enable them repackage their maize to prevent the huge losses farmers have already suffered from worsening.

Mr Mhuru says there is no excuse that can warrant the failure by the FRA to supply empty grain bags to farmers who have spent months at the depots.