By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has so far spent K177 million on farmers who supplied maize in Northern Province  in the 2015 crop marketing season with only less than K10 million remaining to be cleared.
Northern Province had the highest maize tonnage harvesting of 94,818 tonnes in the 2014/2015 season.
Northern Province acting permanent secretary Boniface Mbuzi said the remaining balance for maize purchases would be cleared before the end of the month.
He was speaking in an interview in Kasama yesterday.
“The Province has recorded the highest maize production in Zambia producing 94,818 tonnes and the FRA has so far disbursed K177 million and less than K10million will be  disbursed, hopefully before the end of this month, all the farmers will be cleared,” Mr Mbuzi added.
He said the Government was happy about the manner in which the FRA conducted the maize marketing in the Province.
“We are delighted and satisfied about the manner in which this year’s farming season was conducted in the province and this has given impetus for small scale farmers to grow more in the next farming season,”  Mr Mbuzi said.
He attributed the bumper harvest to increased farming interest and the rainfall received in the last season compared to other provinces.
Mr Mbuzi said the improvement in the major and feeder roads and early input distribution helped the province lead in maize production and hoped that the trend would continue looking at the potential of the province.