ZNFU SLAMS FLOOR MAIZE PRICE
THE K65 per 50 kilogram bag of maize price offered by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is absurd and horrendously low, Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) president Jervis Zimba has charged.
And Mr Zimba called for an unhampered functioning of market conditions and open borders following the low buying price offered by government.
He also advised farmers to consider making use of the warehouse receipts arrangements, warning that if all farmers tried to sell all their maize at once, prices would drop even further.
Mr Zimba also said that contrary to insinuations by FRA that the ZNFU was consulted in arriving at the K65 buying price, the union was left out.
“We find the statement that ZNFU was consulted at a stakeholders’ meeting to arrive at the K65 for a 50kg bag of maize by the FRA disingenuous as ZNFU did not attend such a meeting.
“The ZNFU wishes to disassociate itself from being party to the announced FRA price which farmers have been offered. We also refuse to be used to legitimize a price that the Union has had no input in determining,” he said.
Mr Zimba said that a formal complaint would be lodged with government, adding that the union stood ready to dialogue if called upon.
He advised farmers to find better markets and employ prudent ways of selling their maize.
Mr Zimba also called on the Ministry of Agriculture to expedite the issuance of Export Permits for the surplus crop so that farmers could find alternative markets.
He urged government to maintain consistency in the export of agriculture commodities as the food balance sheet figures declared that a surplus of 341, 313 metric tons could potentially be exported.
Mr Zimba said that this would motivate private sector participation in maize marketing when Government restated that Zambia was open for maize exports.
Meanwhile, Mr Zimba advised farmers that bulking and selling consolidated volumes was bound to attract a better price as opposed to selling individually.
“To realize this, Zamace is a good platform for posting parcels of maize to sell,” he said.