NFRA Ready to Store 2023 Maize Harvest Ready to Store 2023 Maize Harvest

Luchenza silos Luchenza silos - file photo

The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) says it is ready to store this year's harvest after completing the maintenance works for the 12-year malfunctioning Luchenza and Mzuzu metallic silos.

NFRA's Board chaiperson, Denis Kalekeni has told Zodiak Online on Friday that the silos have created an additional 40,000 metric tonnes space.

This comes as government has also released the farmgate prices.

"This year we are going to have an additional space having completed the renovation of the Luchenza and Mzuzu silos. There are just minor things that have to be concluded, but in terms of replacement of the chain conveyors which were breaking the maize, that has been sorted out," he assured.

Kalekeni has also disclosed that in the forthcoming fiscal year, the Authority will also renovate Limbe warehouses, after drawing lessons from Cyclone Freddy calamity on the need for the country to always have enough grain reserves.

Meanwhile, food and agriculture expert, Ronald Chilumpha has suggested that this year, government should start buying the crops on time to avert poor storage by smallholder farmers.

"The most important action they should undertake is to start buying maize at the right time immediately after the farmers have harvested. That helps in storage since we know the NFRA has the expertise," he suggested.

It is estimated that the country loses over 400, 000 metric tonnes of maize annually, owing to poor storage facilities, particularly by the smallholder farmers.

Recently, about 10, 000 metric tonnes of maize went bad in the Authority' storage facilities.

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