PETAUKE FARMERS SELL MAIZE TO FRA
By Hector Simfukwe- Several farmers in Petauke District of Eastern Province have this year opted to sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency -FRA- because of the competitive prices that the agency is offering.
One of the farmers, TRYSON PHIRI says for the last three years he has been selling maize to briefcase buyers because their prices were better than those of FRA.
Mr. PHIRI says when FRA announced the price at which it was to buy maize this year, he was attracted to sell all his 2-hundred bags of the commodity to the agency.
Another farmer TITAMENJI MWANZA has thanked President EDGAR LUNGU for allowing FRA to offer competitive prices for maize.
Mrs. MWANZA told ZNBC news that she will use the money to take her children to school once she sells her 91 bags of maize.
And STEPHEN PHIRI said the early distribution of farming inputs has enabled farmers to record a bumper harvest in Petauke.
Petauke acting District Commissioner WILLIAM TEMBO said Farmers are been paid within three days of delivering their maize.
He said government has already released the money and is currently in the Banks.