The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has extended the crop marketing season by 30 days following careful consideration of the prevailing situation on the local and regional market.
This implies that this year’s crop marketing season will close on 30th November 2024 instead of 31st October as per standard practice.
FRA Executive Director Mwansa Chamatete told RCV News in a statement today that the extension is as a result of market dynamics experienced this year caused mainly by the El Niño induced drought.
“Further, this extension has been made in order to ensure that more farmers are accorded time to deliver their maize to the nearest FRA buying point,” said Mr. Chamatete.
Mr. Chamatete has since informed farmers that FRA depots in provinces that did not experience drought shall remain open up to 30th November 2024.
He has further urged grain traders and other maize suppliers that still have excess maize and wish to sell the stock to deliver it to the nearest FRA buying point.
Mr. Chamatete has also emphasized that the price remains at K330 per 50kg bag and K6,600 per metric tonne.
By Margaret Mwanza
