Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Government has revealed that the defense forces under the operation dubbed ‘Operation Ubutala Ii’ in Northern Province have moved out 15,333 by 50-killograms bags of maize in the satellite depots that are extremely difficult to access by the local transporters who have completely failed to move the stock.
Northern Province Provincial Minister Leonard Mbao says this is out of the targeted 104,795 by 50-killograms bags in 5 out of 12 satellite depots stating that the balance will be secured in a few weeks to come.
Speaking during the official launch of the 2022 special Food Reserve Agency maize mop up programme by the Zambia Defense Forces, Mr Mbao says the program commenced on the 7th of march, 2022 with Luwingu and Lupososhi Districts being the first due to the districts’ overwhelming stocks of maize and a high number of satellite depots doted across the two districts.
He explains that the government has engaged the defense forces to mop up all the maize which is still in the satellite depots of the province in order to secure maize bought by the food reserve agency.
The provincial minister is pleased that the defense forces have provided a good number of 4 x 4 trucks to secure this maize which is a staple food for our country.
And Brigadier General Chola Lupashi Northern Division Formation Commander says the maize haulage exercise is progressing despite the challenge of the road.
Food Reserve Agency (FRA) Northern Province Crop Marketing Coordinator, Timothy Chanda, says the agency purchased close to four million by 50kg bags of maize from small holder farmers in the last crop marketing season in the region.