FRA begins paying cash to farmers 

to attract them to sale their maize to the agency and prevent them from being manipulated by briefcase grain buyers

By NATION REPORTER 

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has started paying cash upon delivery to farmers who have sold their maize to the agency. 

FRA board chairperson Kelvin Hambwezya has revealed that the decision was arrived at because it had been observed that farmers in some areas were selling their maize at a lower price due to the fact that they were being paid cash immediately.

Mr Hambwezya said the move was necessitated to enable the FRA favourably protect farmers from making losses as they sell their crops.

He said buying cash from the farmers would ensure that farmers get value for their maize and result in the Agency adequately replenishing National Strategic Food Reserves.

“This decision will also enable farmers prepare for the upcoming farming season and pay for the FISP programme that is already in progress countrywide,” he said. 

Mr Hambwezya said FRA was confident that the initiative they have made would boost agricultural productivity during the coming farming season which would result in sustained National food security.

He also said the intervention measure has been made to respond to the current market dynamics and ensure that farmers get their money on time.

Mr Hambwezya also said the FRA shall continue ensuring that sufficient marketing prerequisites such as empty grain bags are made available for this exercise so as not to inconvenience farmers.  

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