Hamasaka Makes Clarifications on FRA and CDF

By Ellen Hambuba Government says the Food Reserve Agency will continue buying maize for national strategic reserves in line with its mandate. State House Chief Communications Specialist CLAYSON HAMASAKA says the government is planning to establish a dedicated crop marketing entity that will be responsible for crop marketing. He says the entity will have private sector participation that will facilitate maize exports. Mr. HAMASAKA says the reforms are part of the Grow Zambia Agenda, which seeks to expand agricultural production and create opportunities for Zambia to sell more of its produce beyond the domestic market. He says the proposed changes do not mean the FRA is withdrawing completely from maize purchases, but reflect its primary responsibility of maintaining the country’s strategic food reserves. Mr HAMASAKA says Zambia is targeting to produce ten million metric tonnes of maize and that private-sector involvement is important in helping the country find markets for the surplus maize and support the export drive. Mr HAMASAKA’s clarification comes as the government outlines the role of FRA as an agency that focuses on purchasing maize required for national strategic reserve. Meanwhile, Mr HAMASAKA has clarified that the Constituency Development Fund allocation has not been reduced and remains at 40 million kwacha per constituency. He says the government has only realigned the disbursement of funds according to the needs of individual constituencies and their rate of absorption. The clarification follows concerns surrounding CDF funding, with Mr HAMASAKA stressing that the overall allocation to each constituency remains unchanged.