Smallholder Farmers at Risk

Economic and operational challenges at FRA threaten the livelihoods of Zambia’s maize producers.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 – (3-09-2025) -  Small-scale farmers across Zambia are facing severe delays in maize purchases, inconsistent payments, and shortages of grain bags, prompting the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) to call for urgent reforms of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

CSPR Executive Director Isabel Mutembo Mukelabai told journalists in a statement that while President Hakainde Hichilema issued directives on August 23, 2025, to address procurement delays and grain bag shortages, “these short-term measures will not be enough unless the FRA undertakes deep institutional and operational reforms.”

“The FRA is mandated to ensure national food security and provide a structured market for staple crops such as maize. Yet, its current system continues to disadvantage smallholder farmers,” Mukelabai said, citing delayed purchases, limited availability of grain bags, inconsistent payment schedules, and political interference as ongoing challenges.

Mukelabai welcomed the President’s directives during his engagement with traditional leaders under the Lamba Lima Royal Establishment and leaders of the Baptist Union of Zambia. 

She described the call for immediate action as “timely and commendable” but warned that without structural reforms, these challenges will persist.

CSPR is urging the FRA to immediately ensure the availability of empty grain bags at all depots, fast-track payments to farmers upon maize delivery, establish reliable communication channels to prevent exploitation by middlemen, and engage farmer associations and civil society in real-time monitoring to guarantee transparency, Mukelabai said.

For medium- to long-term reforms, Mukelabai called for a comprehensive review of FRA operations to align with Zambia’s agricultural growth policies, promote maize productivity, support farmer commercialization, and increase rural incomes. 

She also recommended transitioning to a market-oriented system, institutionalizing logistics and market planning, and depoliticizing maize procurement to maintain institutional integrity and farmer confidence.

“Food security and economic development in Zambia will depend on building an efficient, inclusive, and transparent maize marketing system,” Mukelabai said. 

“Smallholder farmers must be recognized as key economic actors whose contributions are rewarded fairly and consistently.”

CSPR urged the Ministry of Agriculture, the FRA, and other stakeholders to collaborate with non-state actors to address these bottlenecks and initiate a policy dialogue on restructuring the FRA to fulfill its statutory obligations as a strategic food reserve agency.