Govt. to give Chisamba District 40 metric tonnes of maize

Govt. to give Chisamba District 40 metric tonnes of maize

Chisamba,  JANUARY, 7, 20114, ZANIS —  Government  says it will give Chisamba District  40 metric tonnes (800 by 50kg bags) of maize grain as relief food following the poor harvest last farming season.

And Food Reserve Agency  FRA) Marketing Assistant  Ernest Katongo says  the reduction in the number of bags procured during the 2013/2014 farming season was due to  brief case buyers who distorted the market price.

Chisamba District Commissioner Ferdinand Chipindi says  this was the district lobbied for relief food following  the hunger in the area due to  drought and infestation of army worms last farming season.

ZANIS reports that the DC said this during the first District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting yesterday.

And Food Reserve Agency  FRA) Marketing Assistant  Ernest Katongo says  the reduction in the number of bags  during the 2013/2014 farming season  was due to brief case buyers who distorted the market price.

He said the brief case buyers lured the farmers to selling the maize to them instead of FRA.

The FRA  has so far  only managed to buy 77,477 bags of maize in the 2013/2014 marketing season compared to 334,974 in the 2011/2012 marketing season.

The World Vision has been engaged in the distribution exercise  because of its  good track record of transparency  through its food for work where the beneficiaries will be expected to clear drainages, clear culverts, dig water wells, and clear roads.

While the 200 bags will be distributed to the under privileged, terminally ill, physically challenged, and widows.

The relief food will be distributed for three months to the six affected wards in the area such as Chikonkomene, Chowa, Liteta, Chamuka, Muswishi and Chisamba.