By CHATULA KANGALI –
MEALIE-MEAL prices are before the end of this week expected to drop after Government last week entered into milling business to stabilise the cost of the commodity.
Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) President Allan Sakala confirmed this in an interview saying a 25 kilogramme (Kg) of breakfast meal would now cost less than K70
Mr Sakala said millers would today start buying a 50Kg bag of maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) as low as K85.
He said the purchase of maize at K85 from FRA would trigger the drop in cost of production thereby reducing the price of mealie-meal on the market.
Agricultural Minster Given Lubinda last week told Parliament that Government had entered into milling business to stabilise the cost of the commodity for the benefit of consumers.
Mr Lubinda said that FRA would secure maize for private millers to buy at a cheaper price.
He noted that it was unfortunate that private millers had failed to secure enough maize for processing; hence they attributed the increase of the commodity price to inadequate raw materials.
Millers have been buying a 50Kg bag of maize from some farmers as high as K100.
The price of a 25kg has been selling as high as K80 in some stores across the country.
