JCTR calls for better maize prices
By NATION REPORTER GOVERNMENT should offer farmers not less than K85 per 50 kilogrammes of maize to encourage value addition, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has suggested.
On Friday last week, the Food Reserve Agency marginally increased the floor price of maize to K65 per 50kg from last year’s K60 for the same quantity.
JCTR programme officer for social and economic development, Innocent Ndashe, said Government needed to be considerate of the plight of the poor farmers and ensure that farmers were not exploited.
Mr Ndashe said the K65.00 floor price would in no way empower local farmers to move out of their poverty through value addition and diversification.
He said it would simply keep the farmers where they had been for years.
“JCTR has followed with interest happenings in the agriculture sector and advises that a clear way be spelt out on how the sector will be managed. One area that the Centre demands to be made very clear is the marketing of the crop especially maize,
In a statement, Mr Ndashe urged Government to urgently spell out clearly how marketing of the crop in the agriculture sector was to be managed.
“The JCTR urges that to attract active private sector participation, the government needs to ensure necessary infrastructure such as feeder roads are in place.
“The Centre urges that Government takes the lead in encouraging diversified agriculture by, for instance, providing readily available markets for other crops beyond maize that could be grown in various provinces,” he said.