Farmers welcome FRA’s K347 maize price, three-day payment plan
Agricultural stakeholders have welcomed the Food Reserve Agency’s 2026 crop purchasing prices and its commitment to pay farmers within three days of supplying their produce.
Lusaka, 27 July – The FRA has set the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of Grade A white maize at K347, up from K340 last season, while a 40-kilogramme bag of paddy rice will fetch K300.
Zambia National Farmers Union president Zvhikonyo Mahombe said the 2 percent increase demonstrated consistency in agricultural pricing and would give farmers greater certainty when planning production and investment.
National Association for Smallholder Farmers executive director Frank Kayula said the prices were within expected production costs and should enable farmers to recover their investment.
Dr Kayula also welcomed the three-day payment commitment but urged farmers not to sell all their grain despite the attractive price, advising households to retain enough for consumption and emergencies.
Agriculture expert Edify Hamukale also backed the prices, saying predictable economic conditions could help keep the cost of mealie meal, eggs, beef, dairy products, livestock feed and other food products relatively stable.
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