By Julius M. Phiri
Zambia has accumulated more than two million metric tonnes of maize following the Food Reserve Agency’s (FRA) purchase of 680,914 metric tonnes of Grade A white maize from farmers since the opening of satellite depots on July 29, 2026.
FRA Board Chairperson Suresh Desai said the Agency had so far paid farmers K3.4 billion for the maize supplied, with payments continuing. Mr Desai said the Agency had also purchased 11.56 metric tonnes of paddy rice during the 2026 crop marketing season.
He said the maize carry-over stock from the 2024/2025 marketing season stood at 1.455 million metric tonnes, bringing Zambia’s total maize stock position to more than two million metric tonnes after taking into account the newly purchased crop.
“Given the gazetted crop marketing period which runs from 1st May to 31st October, the Agency will remain on the market to provide market access to farmers,” Mr Desai said.
He said FRA had introduced digital payments through mobile money and bank accounts during the 2026 crop marketing season, a system he said had significantly improved the speed and efficiency of payments to farmers.
“This payment system has worked extremely well and has enabled the Agency to make prompt payments to farmers. As a result, farmers are happy with the way the system is working,” he said.
Mr Desai said the Agency had also established Satellite Depot Committees to manage and coordinate activities at individual depots as part of measures to enhance service delivery. He said the interventions had contributed to improved service delivery and timely payments to farmers.
Mr Desai assured farmers that FRA remained on the market to purchase designated crops during the gazetted marketing period.
“The Agency is still on the market purchasing designated crops, digital farmer payments are being enhanced and the nation is food secure considering the current stock position,” he said.
The FRA Board Chairperson said the Agency would continue strengthening measures aimed at improving farmer access to markets and ensuring food security in Zambia.
