Nalumango Assures Unpaid Maize Farmers as FRA Purchases Hit Over 2 Million Tonnes

Farmers who supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) during the 2025/2026 marketing season are still waiting for their money, with Government now relying on Treasury resources and commercial bank borrowing to finance outstanding payments.

Vice-President Mutale Nalumango has assured the farmers that they will be paid as soon as possible, although she did not give a specific date for completing the payments.

Speaking during Vice-President’s Question Time in Parliament, Mrs Nalumango said FRA had purchased about 2.7 million metric tonnes of maize, significantly exceeding its initial target of 500,000 metric tonnes.

She was responding to Chama Central Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo, who sought to know when Government would settle the outstanding payments.

“We started very well and I believe that we are continuing to pay,” Mrs Nalumango said.

The scale of FRA’s purchases comes as Government maintains that Zambia is on course to produce 10 million metric tonnes of maize nationally.

Mrs Nalumango said settling farmers’ dues was part of broader efforts to safeguard national food security, particularly in view of anticipated El Niño conditions.

She also advised farmers against selling their entire harvest, urging them to retain enough maize for household consumption in case adverse weather affects supplies.

The Vice-President warned that farmers who sell all their grain for immediate cash could later struggle to buy maize if availability falls and prices rise.

“That is just my piece of advice that, let people not run to get money because the same money may not come and buy the maize which may become too dear in the nation because of the expected El-Niño,” she said.

Mrs Nalumango added that she would soon issue a multi-sectoral statement outlining Government’s preparedness for the anticipated weather conditions.

For farmers awaiting payment, however, the immediate concern remains when the outstanding money will reach them. Government has said Treasury resources and commercial bank borrowing will support the process, but has yet to announce a deadline for clearing all arrears.