By Makokwa Clara Muyendekwa
SOUTHERN Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa says Government has declared war against hunger and poverty.
Mr Mweetwa says this will be done by ensuring food security is attained through production of the maize grain.
He was speaking when he flagged off maize transportation from satellite depots to main holding depots in the Province on Thursday in Choma.
Mr Mweetwa explained that collection and transportation of maize from satellite depots is to be done by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, Defence forces, Food Reserve Agency and Southern Province Administration.
He said the joint collection was in response to Vice President Mutale Nalumango’s directive to the provincial administration to quicken collection of the maize grain from depots in the province in order to secure the grain and prevent it from being damaged by rains.
“I am pleased to inform the nation that in Southern Province the government through FRA has today purchased 2, 486, 289 bags of maize from our farmers, translating into 124, 314.45 metric tonnes,” Mr Mweetwa said.
He said 75, 525.25 metric tonnes of maize has been moved to the main holding depots in the province while 48, 793.75 metric tonnes is yet to be moved to the main holding depots from the satellite depots.
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