‘Lift export ban on rain-fed maize’
GOVERNMENT should lift the ban on export of rain-fed maize to allow farmers sell to alternative markets, Zambia National Farmers Union(ZNFU) Public Relations Officer Kelvin Kaleyi has said.
Mr Kaleyi said the country has produced enough maize therefore government should allow farmers to export to markets with attractive prices.
He said the Country has produced 3.3 metric tonnes out of which 1 metric tonnes will be bought by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Mr Kaleyi said government should allow farmers to export the surplus so that they can improve their production.
“3.3 metric tonnes that the country has produced this year is quiet huge and government should allow export of excess of rain fed maize. We want a good market and good prices for our farmers so that they can grow and start growing maize throughout this year to boost their income levels and national food security,” he said.
Mr Kaleyi said ZNFU was interested in ensure that there is a good market with attractive prices for farmers to sell their produce so that they can improve on production and machining their farming.
And Mr Kaleyi said the farmers were looking to export 83,000 metric tonnes of early maize.
He said ZNFU and other stakeholders will soon conclude formalities in readiness for export.
Mr Kaleyi said farmers have in excess of 83,000 tonnes of winter maize out of 135,000 metric tonnes produced last winter.