Farmers say no to export middlemen
SET up mechanism that will make it easy for small-scale farmers to export maize to the regional market without passing through third parties, the Small
Scale Farmers Agency (SAFADA) has pleaded with Government.
SAFADA Executive Director, Boyd Moobwe said it will allow farmers that are stuck with stocks of maize to sell directly to the open market in the neighbouring countries like the DRC and Angola.
On Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Mutolo Phiri said the government had allowed FRA and the grain traders to export 450, 000 mt each to the regional market.
But Mr Moobwe said it would be good if government can consider allowing the smallscale farmers that are stuck with stock to sell their maize outside the FRA and Grain
Traders arrangement.
He was however, quick to mention that it’s not easy for small-scale farmers to export maize because of the restrictions both at local and regional level.
Mr Moobwe noted that without finding a lasting solution to marketing challenges faced by the farmers, brief case buyers will continue exploiting the rural farmers.
He said despite government directing the Food Reserve Agency to uy up to a million metric tons of maize, many small-scale farmers will still be left out because of the bumper harvest the country has recorded this year.
Mr Moobwe also said the government should seriously address the high cost of production in the agricultural sector as this is a major impediment to farmers especially those in the smallscale category.
He said government should also invest in institutional capacity building for organisations such as SAFADA, in the order for it to carryout research that supplement government in its effort to assist farmers.
“Once farmer organisations like ours are capacitated, Government will have not worry about the challenges are facing to find resolve the marketing problems,” Mr Moobwe said.