Corn Sale to Government

Each family's pile of corn to sell.

Corn is brought to the Food Reserve Agency by farmers using ox-carts or trucks.

(These collection/storage points appear to be in each village or community).

 Then the maize is cleaned using a sieve and then weighed on scales, each bag should weigh 50.10kgs.

 

Then the bags are sewn and labeled, after which they are stacked and then receipts are issued. 

The farmer waits for 3 to 4 days before receiving the money through bank account or mobile money transfer to the phone. 

Previously farmers used to sleep in queues at the bank waiting to be paid but today they receive money in the comfort of their homes.

Cleaning the shelled corn.

 Photos and information from Dr. Rev. Roy Habbaba.

Cory calculated the price paid by the government to be about $8 per bushel, about double the price of corn in the USA and double what the local merchants pay. Food prices in general are lower in Zambia than in the USA and wages are lower. Last year the government didn't pay until around Febuary, after farmers needed the money to buy fertilizer for planting and mid season nitrogen fertilizer. If the government is actually paying now, the local merchant price should adjust soon.

Putting into government bags. 

Drought is predicted for most of southern Africa for the approaching rainy season due to the strong El Nino.

So this year's record harvest, projected to be about 28% higher than last year's record harvest, is a big blessing.

Sewing the bags shut after weighing. 

Waiting for shipping.