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| National |
| Government releases grain reserves,Government releases grain reserves |
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by
Dennis Mzembe,Dennis Mzembe, 13 January 2004
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16:35:31
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The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) on Wednesday launches the release and replenishment of grain stocks from the Strategic Grain Reserves, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food security, Henry Mussa said on Tuesday.
“The launch will actually be to declare that a certain amount of maize is to be released to various Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as the World Food Programme (WFP),” Mussa said.
Proceeds realised from the released SGR, Mussa added, will be deposited into a special account to be used later to replenish used quotas with new grain from the upcoming harvest.
He said some of the maize will still be left in the silos as reserves in case of possible shortages of in some areas. There are currently about 100,000 metric tonnes of maize in the SGR.
“We will strategically be reserving some amounts for the lean season,” he said.
During the launch, he also said, some bottlenecks that NFRA has been experiencing in the handling of the maize will be highlighted. One of the major bottlenecks has been the slow off-loading of maize from the silos due to aged cranes “that are not able to cope”.
Incidentally a caller in Chitipa, identified as Lameck Mulenga, said the district has been experiencing food shortages for the past three months.
“The last time we had some maize was when President Muluzi came here to install a chief. He brought about a hundred metric tonnes,” Mulenga said.
But Mussa said: “That is why we are launching the release of the SGR with the sole purpose that people in the rural areas should benefit. In fact it all comes after the European Union came up with a venerability assessment report which indicates areas that are in dire need of maize”.
The launch on Wednesday will mark the first time that the NFRA will be openly releasing the SGR specifically to NGOs. In October last year NFRA held an Open Day to inform the public about the status of the SGR and the activities of NFRA.
The institution, before new management, headed by Patrick Makina took over, was accused of various malpractices leading to the dismissal of former General manager Henry Gaga allegedly for failing to inform the board about individuals who were owing the organisation large sums of money.
“The challenge of NFRA is to ensure that it manages the SGR professionally, efficiently and effectively in-order to contribute to Malawi’s food security,” Makina said at the October Open Day.,
The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) on Wednesday launches the release and replenishment of grain stocks from the Strategic Grain Reserves, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food security, Henry Mussa said on Tuesday.
“The launch will actually be to declare that a certain amount of maize is to be released to various Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as the World Food Programme (WFP),” Mussa said.
Proceeds realised from the released SGR, Mussa added, will be deposited into a special account to be used later to replenish used quotas with new grain from the upcoming harvest.
He said some of the maize will still be left in the silos as reserves in case of possible shortages of in some areas. There are currently about 100,000 metric tonnes of maize in the SGR.
“We will strategically be reserving some amounts for the lean season,” he said.
During the launch, he also said, some bottlenecks that NFRA has been experiencing in the handling of the maize will be highlighted. One of the major bottlenecks has been the slow off-loading of maize from the silos due to aged cranes “that are not able to cope”.
Incidentally a caller in Chitipa, identified as Lameck Mulenga, said the district has been experiencing food shortages for the past three months.
“The last time we had some maize was when President Muluzi came here to install a chief. He brought about a hundred metric tonnes,” Mulenga said.
But Mussa said: “That is why we are launching the release of the SGR with the sole purpose that people in the rural areas should benefit. In fact it all comes after the European Union came up with a venerability assessment report which indicates areas that are in dire need of maize”.
The launch on Wednesday will mark the first time that the NFRA will be openly releasing the SGR specifically to NGOs. In October last year NFRA held an Open Day to inform the public about the status of the SGR and the activities of NFRA.
The institution, before new management, headed by Patrick Makina took over, was accused of various malpractices leading to the dismissal of former General manager Henry Gaga allegedly for failing to inform the board about individuals who were owing the organisation large sums of money.
“The challenge of NFRA is to ensure that it manages the SGR professionally, efficiently and effectively in-order to contribute to Malawi’s food security,” Makina said at the October Open Day. |
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