Gov’t, FRA differ over 1m maize export to DRC

By GIDEON NYENDWA

GOVERNMENT has dismissed as false the announcement that Zambia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the export of over one million tonnes of maize, contradicting earlier remarks made by Food Reserve Agency (FRA) Board chairperson Suresh Desai.
Acting Agriculture Minister Peter Kapala yesterday clarified that while the government has received inquiries for maize exports from the DRC and other neighbouring countries, no MoU has been signed, and negotiations are still ongoing.
This follows a statement issued earlier this week by Mr. Desai, in which he announced that Zambia was set to export over one million tonnes of white maize to the DRC following the signing of a MoU between FRA and the Congolese government.
Mr Desai stated that preparations were underway to commence the export process and that the private sector would play a key role in facilitating the trade.
However, Mr Kapala said the government’s immediate priority was to buy maize from farmers and build up the country’s strategic food reserves, not to rush into exports.
He said Zambia had recorded a bumper harvest of 3, 655, 646 metric tonnes of maize, with an additional 384, 999 metric tonnes in carryover stock, bringing the total available maize to 4, 040, 645 metric tonnes.
The national maize requirement, which includes human consumption, industrial use and reserves, stands at 3, 539, 024 metric tonnes, leaving a projected surplus of 501, 621 metric tonnes.
Mr Kapala stated that any future export consideration would only involve the surplus and be done in the form of value-added products such as mealie meal, not raw maize and only after the FRA meets its purchase targets for national food security.
“The government’s focus is on strengthening food security and supporting farmers through maize purchases via satellite depots where grain moisture levels meet the required 12.5 percent threshold,” Mr Kapala said.
Currently, maize purchasing has commenced at 829 depots across Lusaka, Central, Southern, Western, and parts of Copperbelt Province, while operations in Northern and North-Western provinces await acceptable moisture levels. FRA has increased its depot network from 1, 428 to 1, 600 sites to accommodate this year’s harvest.
Mr. Desai had earlier said exporting the surplus would help prevent market saturation and post-harvest losses, assuring that all farmer payments would be made promptly through multiple payment platforms including mobile money, bank transfers, cash and Kazang.