The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has assured farmers that all outstanding payments for maize supplied will be settled by October 31, 2025. The announcement follows concerns raised by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), which had urged the government to clear payments within the month to enable farmers to prepare for the next farming season.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, FRA Board Chairperson Suresh Desai explained that the delay in payments was due to the unprecedented volume of maize purchased this year. The agency had targeted 500,000 metric tonnes but ended up buying close to 1.7 million metric tonnes, more than triple the planned amount.
“Today, we are going flat out because we have mobilised money. We are starting to pay, starting from today. We exhausted the money that was budgeted for, but we have since secured additional resources to meet the commitment,” Desai said.
The assurance is expected to bring relief to farmers, many of whom depend on timely payments to acquire seed, fertilizer, and other farming inputs ahead of the planting season.
ZNFU had earlier stressed that delays in payments could disrupt preparations for the upcoming season, potentially affecting productivity and national food security. The FRA’s pledge to meet the October 31 deadline is seen as a critical step in safeguarding farmers’ confidence and ensuring stability in the agricultural sector.
The agency’s purchase of 1.7 million metric tonnes highlights both the strong response from farmers and the need for robust financial planning to match procurement with available resources.
If FRA meets its commitment, farmers will be better positioned to focus on production, which remains vital for sustaining Zambia’s food reserves and supporting the wider economy.