NASFA SAYS FRA DELAY ON 2026 MAIZE PRICE IS CREATING UNCERTAINTY FOR FARMER.

 

National Association for Smallholder Farmers (NASFA) Executive Director Dr. Frank Kayula says the Food Reserve Agency -FRA's decision to delay announcing the 2026 maize purchase price due to high moisture content is causing uncertainty among farmers.

He says while NASFA understands that FRA cannot purchase maize with moisture levels above the required standard, the moisture content should not delay the announcement of the buying price.

Dr. Kayula says announcing the maize price is important because it helps stabilize the market and protects farmers from selling their produce at low prices noting that the prices currently being offered by private buyers are below the break point for many smallholder farmers.

He has further welcomed FRA’s plan to pay farmers electronically through mobile phones, saying the move will make payments more efficient urging farmers to ensure they have active phone numbers to facilitate payments and improve record keeping and traceability of maize sales.

He has since appealed to farmers not to sell all their maize once FRA announces the price, but to reserve some for household food security especially with the anticipated drought conditions linked to the expected El Niño season.

He has also encouraged farmers to grow drought tolerant crop varieties to reduce the impact of adverse weather.

QFM Zambia