SUN BUSINESS REPORTERS Writes
GOVERNMENT has entered into a tripartite agreement with the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) for the latter to access maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to raise funds to pay farmers that supplied maize to the agency last year, says agriculture minister Michael Katambo.
Mr. Katambo said in Lusaka yesterday that under the agreement, millers would access maize from FRA at a subsidized fee.
He said the FRA has been allowed access to a certain tonnage of maize under the arrangement to settle the debt owed to millers, transporters and farmers.
Mr. Katambo explained that FRA would sell the maize to millers who would in turn pay transporters engaged to move the maize.
The minister said the maize released was equivalent to the amount of money government owed both farmers and transporters which he could not disclose.