CHIEF CHISOMO AND FARMERS CALL FOR FRA TO HIKE FLOOR PRICE FOR MAIZE
- Helen Witti
- 07 Jun, 2025
CHIEF CHISOMO AND FARMERS CALL FOR FRA TO HIKE FLOOR
PRICE FOR MAIZE
By HELEN WITTI
CHIEF Chisomo of the Lala speaking people of Serenje
District has called on government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to
consider increasing the floor price for maize and other commodities.
Chief Chisomo says that the increase in price will
help to stabilise the market and ensure a steady food supply.
“If government through FRA does not increase the price
for maize and soya beans, it will cause the briefcase buyers to take advantage
of farmers thereby increasing household food insecurity,” Chief Chisomo said.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview with
national agricultural information services in Kabwe, shortly after attending
the stakeholder’s engagement on the proposed constitution amendment meeting.
Bonwell Muchima. a farmer from Kasosolo in Central province
has called on FRA to consider increasing the price of maize from K330 to at
least K450 per 50kilogramme bag of maize.
Mr. Muchima further requested FRA to peg a bag of soya
beans at a good attractive price, as this is a cash crop.
He said the call to increase the floor price for these
commodities was necessitated by the high cost of farming inputs for farmers who
do not benefit from the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP).
Another farmer, Justine Menda says FRA should increase
the price of maize to at least K500 per bag.
Mr Menda said that the increase in price would give
farmers the motivation to continue growing, as they will realize a profit.
He has since called on FRA to expedite in the
announcement of the floor price of commodities and the crops that the agency is
expected to buy this marketing season.
Meanwhile, a trader who sought enormity wants
government to reduce the price of the commodity owing to the fact that an
increase in maize sale price will lead to high price of mile meal.
He however, noted that a well-considered floor price could
have far-reaching benefits, including increased food security, economic
benefits and market stability. -NAIS
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