Govt recinds decision on soyabeans, directs food agency to purchase 100,000 MT tonnes countrywide

Government has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to buy soya beans from small scale farmers country wide.

Agriculture Minister, Reuben Mtolo, made the announcement on Friday in Lusaka when he officiated at the launch of the FRA 2023 crop marketing season.

Mtolo explained that government had taken into consideration the production costs that small scale farmers had encountered.

He stated that this was a government decision that could not be challenged by anyone as government had the interest of farmers at heart.

“I am therefore urging soya beans farmers to desists from exporting soya beans illegally as this makes the country not to be food secure,” Mtolo said.

Read more: Farmers ask govt to rescind decision on purchase of soya beans, fear exploitation by private buyers

Speaking at the same Event, FRA Board Chairperson Kelvin Hambwezya, disclosed that after several consultative meetings, the agency had decided to buy 100,000 metric tonnes of Soya beans country wide.

“The agency will buy one Kg of soya beans at k6, a 50kg bag at k300 and k6000 per metric tonnes,” Hambwezya said.

Meanwhile, Hambwezya said unlike previous crop marketing seasons, the agency would pay maize farmers within seven days of purchasing their maize.

He, therefore, urged farmers to desist from selling their maize to briefcase buyers who were likely to exploit them.

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