WINTER BONUS

AS the country grapples with high prices of mealie meal amidst controversy over maize supplies, the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has come up with some good news, that winter maize is ready for harvesting.

The good news from ZNFU is that Zambia has produced over 135, 000 metric tonnes of early maize whose harvest starts in the next 10 days.

This is indeed welcome news for a population that has been faced with unaffordable prices of mealie meal even when there is no maize deficit in the country.

For the average consumer, the projected bumper harvest put in simple terms could mean that there would be more maize on the market which could ultimately lead to cheaper mealie meal.

We too join ZNFU president Jervis Zimba in applauding the farmers who took up the challenge of growing winter maize which was initially marred in controversy, for a job well done.

As Mr Zimba noted, the initiative had averted a possible importation of maize by Government to cushion the deficit before the rain-fed crop would be ready.

He said without early maize, the country would have spent huge sums of money in importing the commodity.

The cultivation of winter maize should henceforth be on the country’s agricultural calender so that maize is grown all-year round.

Zambia, as we have learnt, cannot always depend on rain-fed maize due to the global climate change.

People must have learnt by now that the poor rainfall pattern has played havoc over food production not only locally but in other parts of the world.

The Southern Province, which once was regarded as the country’s grain basket has in recent years suffered from a debilitating drought that has left villagers without any food, and have to rely on relief food from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to avert starvation.

As though that was not enough, unexpected rainfall in some areas has destroyed maize fields in other areas – meaning that the victims also have to depend on relief maize.

The same maize that has to go towards relief efforts ironically comes from one source – the Food Reserve Agency – that is responsible for looking after the country’s food needs.

But while the farmers have done their part, we hope the Ministry of Agriculture would heed advice from ZNFU that it does not delay in signing contracts with the farmers.

“I am happy to announce to the public that we will start harvesting this maize in the next 10 days if rains don’t disturb us. We have produced over 135, 000 metric tonnes of early maize and more figures are coming. We could hit 200, 000 metric tonnes,” Mr. Zimba said.

He said the delay in offloading the commodity on the market once harvested would be triggered by the Ministry of Agriculture if it does not sign contracts on time.

“We have delivered. How quickly this commodity will be on the market will be determined by the ministry’s efficiency but we don’t expect to again start following each other over a straight-forward issue.

“We spent more time bickering at the start of this project and that affected our productivity as some farmers did not want to take the risk. The good part is that those who took the risk have produced beyond expectations but we must learn lessons,” Mr Zimba said.

Indeed, it is often Government’s inertia to be proactive that derails progressive policies from being enforced.

The farmers have more than delivered what was expected of them and the onus is on Government to ensure that they get a good offer for their produce.