Posted on August, 9, 2024 at 09:43 am
THE National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has announced plans to purchase 1,750,000 tonnes of various grains from local farmers for domestic and regional markets.
Dr Andrew Komba, the NFRA director general, told journalists here yesterday that the increase in government support for agriculture from $110m in 2022 to over $470m in 2024, is testimony to this commitment, he said.
This effort is tied with various plans and initiatives to enhance productivity, foster investment in agribusiness, curb post-harvest losses and increase trade in agricultural products across the region, he said.
NFRA earlier signed contracts to export 1,150,000 tonnes to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, with other tonnage being released to the domestic market.
Upwards of 650,000 tonnes of maize had last week begun to be transported to Zambia following the completion of payment, he said, highlighting the purchase of 500,000 tonnes by the DRC authorities for Katanga Province, southeast from the capital, Kinshasa.
NFRA was also executing a contract to supply grain to the World Food Programme (WFP) which is slated for Malawi, where the UN food relief agency has asked to purchase 100,000 tons of grain, with an initial contract for 35,000 tonnes, he said.
“This reflects a significant demand for grain this year domestically and regionally,” he said, noting that the agency is sufficiently prepared to meet the current market demand for grain.
He similarly affirmed that NFRA plans to purchase up to 600,000 tonnes of maize and rice from farmers in a wider effort to maintain substantial food reserves.
A total of 500,000 tonnes will be maize, while rice takes up 100,000 tonnes, with the tonnage expected to be used as a buffer against any shortages of grain, to ensure that the country has adequate food reserves, he said.
The grains will be available for sale to the public when the need arises, he added.
Source: IPP Media