FARMERS REJECT PRICE CONTROL

…But offer to produce winter maize for local and export markets

Farmers have rejected imposed maize price controls, but have offered to produce winter maize for local and export markets.

FARMERS have totally rejected imposed maize price controls intended to appease politically active urban consumers and have instead offered to produce winter maize for local and export markets.

Farmers have promised to produce winter maize to cover any deficit and external requirements on condition that government assures them of a ready market for their produce.

The farmers also want government to allow them export the surplus to neighbouring

countries with very high demand of maize.

They urged government not to bow to pressure from urban consumers demanding that maize prices be reduced.

Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) public relations officer, Kelvin Kaleyi confirmed the Union was being pressured by farmers to negotiate with the government.

He said the Union was now in talks with government over plans to produce winter maize and that the discussions had reached an advanced stage.

Mr Kaleyi said the farmers were ready to implement the programme if the conditions set were met.

He said the early maize could help stabilise stocks on the market and reduce the prices of the commodity if contracted by government.

Mr Kaleyi said the early maize, which he said would be ready for harvest by May next year, could offset the 150, 000 tonnes deficit of the grain the country was currently facing.

He said the stocks would also be sustained by farmers who will plant normal maize which would be expected to mature by June, under the normal farming cycle.

Mr Kaleyi explained that if the discussions with government could come to fruition and farmers were contracted, maize supply would be stabilized.

“We have had high level meetings with government concerning the planting of early maize.

We made a lot of headways during these discussions. If farmers are contracted, naturally, we will see the availability of stocks on the market stabilise and the prices too,” he said.

Mr Kaleyi said the discussions were still on-going and that the farmers were just waiting for a go ahead.