THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has reduced the price of maize, board chairperson Costain Chilala has announced.

According to a statement released in Lusaka yesterday, a 50 kilogramme bag of maize will now cost K55,000 from the previous K63,000.

Mr Chilala said the decision was made in consultation with the Government to further bring down the price of mealie meal.

He said that all willing millers would be supplied FRA maize at 100 per cent mill requirements.

"Participating millers will sign a new instrument to further lower mealie meal prices. To meet the increased demand for maize, FRA will buy any available maize from the local market at the FRA reserve price in addition to accelerating the imports," Mr Chilala said.

Mr Chilala said that the FRA would continue with community sales for those that do not qualify under the relief programmes but have purchasing power.

"This maize will now be offered at the reduced price of K55,000 per 50 kg bag," Mr Chilala said.

The Government recently directed the FRA to offload 100,000 tonnes of maize on the market to reduce and stabilise mealie meal prices.

Chimanga Changa Milling Company on Monday announced a reduction in the price of mealie meal for both breakfast and roller meal and attributed it to the cheaper maize from the FRA.

Chimanga Changa pegged its breakfast at K45,000 from K55,000 and roller meal from K45,000 to K35,000 regardless of distance from the Ndola plant for all Copperbelt towns.