BY DRAXON MALOYA
(News of The South) – Agriculture Minister, Robin Lowe says the country is still having 700 thousand metric tons of maize which is enough to take it to the next harvest.
Lowe said 265 thousand metric tons of the staple food, is with Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) and National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) .
He says 17 000 metric tons of the grain, have been released to support 1.6 million people that are facing hunger , as indicated by the MVAC report.
On maize exports, Ministry officials say licenses amounting to 21 000 metric tons have been granted to exporters.
The Minister further says “although up to 700 thousand metric tons can be exported, there will be minor exports, until the country gets to the next harvest”.
Despite Lowe’s report on the current food situation in the country some scrupulous traders are continuing smuggling the grain into neighbouring Zambia and Tanzania using unchartered routes passing through Isongole and Ilomba in Chitipa District.
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