Farmers in Chipata welcome the 70 Kwacha maize buying price for a 50 kilogramme bag.

Farmers in Chipata have welcomed the announcement by FRA, the Food Reserve Agency to purchase a 50 kilogramme bag of maize at 70 Kwacha.
Chipata District Farmers Association Coordinator, Vigil Malambo says the buying price is much better than the price that the private buyers have been offering farmers especially in far-flung areas.
Mr. Malambo says that private buyers took advantage of the delay by government to announce the floor price and exploited farmers.
He explained that farmers became desperate and opted to start selling their produce to private buyers at as low as 50 Kwacha per 50 Kg bag.
Mr. Malambo stated that despite government not being the major player in the sector, it still plays a vital role in reaching out to farmers that cannot be accessed by private buyers.
And Mr. Malambo called on private buyers to be realistic and help vulnerable farmers by offering prices that can help them make a profit from their produce.
He further appealed to government to ensure that farmers that will supply the maize to FRA are paid promptly so that they have adequate time to start preparing for the next farming season.