According to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), more than 152,000 metric tonnes of maize have been sent to various millers across the nation in an effort to lower the price of mealie meal.
Miller’s will now price a 25 kg of mealie meal in Lusaka at 160 kwacha while those on the Copperbelt would sell for 170 kwacha, according to FRA Board Chairperson KELVIN HAMBWEZYA.
After the Agency met with the millers in Lusaka, Mr. HAMBWEZYA stated that both parties had committed to make sure that mealie meal is sold at reasonable pricing.
Mr. HAMBWEZYA claimed that although the agency is aware of the relevant circumstances, it has since expressed gratitude to the millers for helping to bring mealie meal costs down.
Despite the little decline, he expressed optimism that it will continue to drop with more encounters.
Since then, Mr. HAMBWEZYA has urged businesses to lower the cost of mealie meal as well so that consumers can benefit.
And Mr. HAMBWEZYA stated that 75,000 metric tonnes of maize have already been paid for by millers, who have already been contacted to pick up the grain from the nearby FRA depots.
He added that to maintain household food security, the organization has so far sold corn to 33 districts that fall under the category of rural vulnerable communities.
According to Mr. HAMBWEZYA, the agency sold a total of 1,290 metric tonnes as of the end of January 2023.
50,000 metric tonnes of maize have also been released to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) for use in aiding flood-affected households, according to Mr. HAMBWEZYA.
Additionally, he stressed that the nation has access to enough food and that there is no need to worry as the nation works to stabilize the price of the good on the market.
