The Food Reserve Agency of Zambia is preparing for the 2026 harvest season.

In the current season, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is tasked with purchasing approximately 5.1 million tonnes of harvested maize. The agency's primary operational priorities will be the prompt intake of grain, timely payment to farmers, and the prevention of post-harvest losses.

To ensure fair marketing conditions, expert Kelvin Chisanga emphasizes the need for strict adherence to the queuing principle during procurement. Incoming complaints regarding attempts by certain individuals to gain priority access to sell produce through middlemen or informal payments require independent investigations, as such violations could negatively impact farmers' trust in state procurement.

The established purchase price is approximately K347 per 50-kg bag. Given the high importance of these operations, the Agency must ensure strict control at all stages: from farmer registration and warehouse operations to weighing, issuing receipts, processing payments, and reconciling product balances.

To improve the efficiency and transparency of the processes, the adoption of digital technologies is recommended. The use of electronic registration, tracking of payment chains, and public communication of procurement schedules can reduce the risk of manipulation. The success of the FRA's performance in 2026 will be evaluated based on three key criteria: the speed of procurement, the promptness of payments, and adherence to the principle of equal treatment for all market participants, without the need for political or personal connections.