The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) says the absence of operational grain drying machines within the agency poses a significant risk in terms of moisture content for the stored commodities.

As a result, the agency has been rejecting suppliers who provide maize with moisture content higher than the recommended maximum of 12.5 percent in the procurement of Ellen thousand metric tons.

Dennis Kalekeni Board chairperson has confirmed the development  said going forward the agency is planning to install grain dryers in the silos to ensure that future procurement are not affected by moisture content.

Kalekeni emphasized that maize is prone to rotting if stored with high moisture, so it needs to be adequately dried.