FRA To Keep Buying Crops Until End Of October

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will keep buying crops until the end of October, despite already having met targets for maize purchasing this year. 

FRA public relations coordinator John Chipandwe informed ZNBC News of the decision on Monday, assuring farmers that depots across the country are still open for maize buying.

Mr Chipandwe explained that depots had been overwhelmed with farmers delivering maize for fear that the agency would soon stop buying the crop. He added that the FRA had even run out of empty grain bags as a result of the rush to sell.

To alleviate the situation, a further 325,000 extra grain bags have been sent to Southern Province on Sunday, with further supplies to arrive next week.

The rush by farmers was prompted by the FRA’s previous announcement that it had already purchased all the necessary maize for that year. At Simango depot in Southern Province, grain sacks were reportedly filled to bursting, although the agency has denied that these bags belonged to them.