The Sunday News
THE Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute has revealed that the Food Reserve Agency has been releasing 100,000 tonnes of maize for human consumption every month out of the required 125,158.
And the IAPRI, headed by Chance Kabaghe as its executive director, in its inaugural quarterly bulletin, says Zambia’s maize stocks being held by the FRA approximated to be 1,069,205 tonnes as of January 2016, are expected to last up to August.
In its bulletin, IAPRI stated that the total maize stock being held by millers was not known at the time of the publication of the 2016 bulletin in December last year.
“According to the national Food Balance Sheet, human consumption requirements are estimated at 125,158 metric tonnes per month and industrial requirements are approximately 30,000 metric tonnes per month…the FRA has been releasing 100,000 metric tonnes per month to millers, community sales and to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit,” the IAPRI bulletin stated.
The IAPRI stated that 1,069,205 metric tonnes of maize was being held by the FRA, Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) and the Zambia National Farmers Union.
“Stocks held by millers were not known at the time of this article and the limited stocks held by small-scale farmers from the previous harvest are also not included,” stated IAPRI.
“In addition, GTAZ was also holding 171,938 metric tonnes committed to the regional market. The FRA reported that the stocks it was holding were all committed to the local market and none would be exported. All factors constant, the current available stocks are adequate to see the country up to at least August 2016.”- The Post
