President Hakainde Hichilema has assured farmers in the country that government will procure maize at a good price both early maize programme and rain fed maize.

In a speech read on his behalf by minister of Agriculture Mtolo Phiri at the Agritec Expo, Republican President Hichilema said this year government is introducing more products on the Agriculture credit window to cover a broad range of agricultural assets, such as irrigation and mechanisation and other activities including livestock and fisheries.

He said the measures are expected to increase production and productivity among small-scale farmers encourage value addition in various commodity value chains and to build resilience against climate shocks,"he said.

The head of state disclosed that during the 2024 / 2005 farming season, government and commercial farmers are targeting to produce 300,000 metric tons of maize.