Zambia Records Highest Maize Purchases as 2025 Crop Marketing Season Closes
The 2025 crop marketing season in Zambia officially closed on 31 October 2025, with record-breaking maize purchases recorded across the country. The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) announced that, as of 27 October 2025, a total of 1,659,368 metric tonnes (NMT) of Grade A white maize had been purchased, equivalent to 33,187,360 fifty-kilogramme bags.
This season, the FRA also recorded a single purchase of 252.3 metric tonnes, equivalent to 6,308 forty-kilogramme bags, marking the highest maize purchase in the agency’s history.
The agency commended Zambian farmers for their resilience and hard work, which resulted in nearly 4 million metric tonnes (4,000,000MT) of maize produced – the highest national production ever recorded.
Acting Executive Director Justin Chuunka extended gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Zambia under the UPND administration for its “practical and progressive interventions and innovations” in the agriculture sector, which are transforming farming practices.
The FRA highlighted that it has continued to sustainably pay farmers, improving the welfare of rural households through increased disposable income. The agency also praised its collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture through the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), which facilitated timely processing of farmers to redeem inputs from agro-dealers, allowing them to prepare for the 2026 farming season.
Chuunka commended farmers for choosing to sell their maize to the FRA, noting that their decision has significantly contributed to sustaining national food security.
He added that, with the 2025 season concluded, planning for the 2026 crop marketing season is already underway.
