By Francis Chipalo
Zambian farmers have roasted the Food Reserve Agency – FRA – for failing to announce the purchasing price for maize.
This was after a delayed press conference aimed at announcing the much-anticipated buying price for the country’s staple food, a day after President Hakainde Hichilema ordered the agency to make the announcement.
However, backlash against the agency started before the briefing, which was scheduled to commence at 11:30 hours but only started around 14:00 hours.
Once FRA Board Chairperson Suresh Desai announced that the agency was not able to state the price, and that it would be unable to start buying the commodity until the moisture content drops to 12.5% or below, Zambians flooded the agency’s Facebook page with negative comments during the live stream of the briefing.
Some complained that the delay was discouraging to farmers, whilst others demanded that the board be replaced for disappointing farmers.
But Desai explained that the agency was “very much ready” to purchase the commodity once it reaches the required moisture standards.
He assured farmers that FRA would move quickly to open buying points as soon as laboratory tests confirm the maize has met the 12.5% moisture threshold.