That is the question many are asking as Zambia enters a new crop marketing season. The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has announced that it will buy a 50-kilogram bag of white maize at K340, up from K330 last year. While the increase is modest, it represents a step toward supporting farmers after a year that delivered a bumper harvest.

FRA Board Chairperson Suresh Desai shared the news during a press briefing in Lusaka, also revealing that the agency will purchase rice at K300 per 40 kilograms. He explained that these prices reflect the FRA’s continued commitment to strengthening Zambia’s agriculture sector.

Desai also encouraged farmers to explore other market options if they believe they can secure better offers. This signals a more open and flexible approach to agricultural trade and pricing, one that respects farmers’ autonomy in the marketplace.

FRA aims to purchase a total of 543,000 metric tons of maize during this season, reinforcing its critical role in maintaining national food reserves.

Maize Price Is One Part of the Puzzle

While the increase in maize pricing is a welcome gesture, it does not solve the broader issue most farmers face, the high cost of farming inputs. Fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, and fuel continue to strain already tight farming budgets. For smallholders especially, these costs can be the difference between profit and loss.

If Zambia wants to unlock real growth in its agriculture sector, it must prioritize making inputs more affordable and accessible. Support at the production stage is just as important as fair pricing at harvest.

The Bigger Picture: A Vision for 2027

For the first time in years, farmers feel like they have real support from State House. The government is taking a more strategic approach to agriculture, one that is focused on long-term economic value, not short-term political popularity.

One of the more ambitious goals on the table is to increase maize production from the current average of 3 million metric tonnes to 10 million by 2027. That level of output would be enough to feed the nation for two full seasons and allow for consistent maize exports, especially to neighboring Congo.This vision reflects an understanding that Zambia’s path to economic growth runs through agriculture. Real progress will come when policies are built around data, economics, and sustainability rather than short-term optics.

From Dought to Delight: Zambia’s Maize Comeback Story

So, Was the Price Increase the Right Move?

Yes, but it cannot stand alone.The FRA’s price adjustment is a step in the right direction. It rewards farmers for their efforts and sets a tone of responsiveness from public institutions. However, it must be paired with deeper reforms in production support, market access, and infrastructure development.

If Zambia can combine better pricing with lower input costs and stronger systems, the agriculture sector has the potential to do more than feed the country. It can transform communities, reduce poverty, and contribute meaningfully to GDP growth.Raising the maize price was the right call. Now, the real work begins.