The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says it has purchased 20 million empty grain bags for the packaging of Grade A white maize during this year’s on-going crop marketing season.
FRA Public Relations Coordinator, John Chipandwe, said the 20 million empty grain bags are sufficient to purchase one million metric tonnes of maize.
Chipandwe in a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday said the Agency acknowledged that there were slight challenges in the delivery of empty grain bags to some depots.
“This was due to the fact that some depots were recording higher purchases compared to the anticipated purchases taking into account the anticipated production,” he said.
Chipandwe said this resulted in the Agency relocating some empty grain bags to such areas.
“Further, the slight delays were due to technical processes that are conducted before the manufactured bags are delivered to the Agency for onward transportation to needy depots,” he said.
Chipandwe stated that the situation had now normalized and farmers countrywide were encouraged to continue delivering their white maize to the nearest FRA depots.
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He assured farmers that they would not be turned away since measures to receive their maize have been put in place.
“This is coupled with expedited payment methods to serve them better and ensure they prepare adequately for the forthcoming agriculture season and other needs at household level,” Chipandwe said.
He added that Satellite Depot Clerks in charge of FRA depots countrywide were encouraged to continue alerting the Agency headquarters when new challenges arise so that immediate action would be taken.
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