ZAMBIA – Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has designated to sell 100,000 tonnes of maize from the national strategic food reserve during the 2016/17 season to create space for the commodity to be purchased later this year.

The agency intends to sell maize for export through allocations to various purchase categories and may use different procedures for different areas.

Announcing the sale of the designated commodities in a statement, FRA legal counsel Martha Nalubamba said the intended sale will be for 100,000 tonnes of white maize.

“The maize is located at various depots spread across the country and will be sold on ex-depot or free on board basis.

The sale is in order to create space, properly handle, rotate, distribute and position designated commodities to various parts of the country as part of the national strategic reserve,” Ms Nalubamba said.

She said eligible companies must be Zambian companies or entities registered with Patents and Company Registration Agency and reputable companies from foreign jurisdictions dealing in agricultural business such as milling, food and food processing and grain trading.

“Applicants must apply in writing, pay a non-refundable participation fee of K750, state the quantity of maize required and indicative price offer in United State dollars per tonne and indicate the export market to which the maize is destined,” she stated.

Zambia is expected to harvest 3.6 million tonnes of maize this season but FRA will only buy 500,000 tonnes of maize and 2,100 tonnes of paddy rice during the 2017/18 crop-marketing season.

June 4, 2017: Daily Mail