ZRA wants proper guidance for exporters By

removal of the 10 percent duty on export of crocodile skins has made some positive impact on the viability of the crocodile business, says the Zambia Crocodile Farmers Association (ZaCFA).

Association spokesperson and Kalimba Farms chairman, Bill Thomas, said Zambia’s crocodile farmers were poised to upscale investment, production and exports of skins following Government’s intervention to suspend the export duty on the industry.

AN Mr agreement Thomas said to strengthen the farmers market who survived access the for smallholder negative financial farmers impact through of the the 10 Warehouse percent export Receipt duty, now Systems hope to (WRS) focus on has improving been signed the quality between the of the United skins, Nations increase World their capacity, Food Programme and upgrade (WFP) and with create Lusaka facilities Security to enable Exchange local US$ value (LuSE). 3.5 addition million for Through the local this and agreement, international has WRS been markets. will invested allow in the

smallholder He said historically farmers to crocodiles obtain finance had been using seen produce as

procurement of machinery

deposited a pest and in dangerous a certified but warehouse Zambian as farmers collateral. had turned WRS is them a platform into a renewable jointly and managed 10 resource milling by that the plants Zambia could to be Commodities earn the country Exchange foreign set (ZAMACE) exchange up in Rufunsa and create LuSE. district jobs in The rural partnership communities. would help to strengthen market access “The Zambian for the smallholder crocodile Consolidated farmers industry in has the the Gold country, Company. said potential WFP to Country lead the Representative, world The market. company In Jennifer the value- Bitonde. Chief

chain, “This crocodile partnership skins aims benefit to increase the manufacturing, uptake of

Executive Officer, Faisal smallholder agriculture and farmers tourism on the sectors,” WRS, Zambia Mr which Thomas Revenue could said. significantly Mr Thomas improve said the their crocodile Keer, livelihoods, said industry the incomes targeted had huge and gold

Authority (ZRA) has advised access potential to to markets,’’ position Zambia Ms milling Bitonde as a plants said global in a power would statement in produce in the Lusaka farming yesterday. and supply all of crocodile exporters skins. and handlers

300 grammes of gold per LuSE He said Chief Zambian Executive farmers of Officer, consignments already Pricilla supply Sampa, in transit said crocodile trust and skins confidence to leather day companies remained that translated key like under Louis the into 7.5 partnership, Vuitton, Gucci stating and many that report smallholder big international to any farmers nearest fashions would customs

kilogrammes per month. now brands. have access to markets offices through immediately the WRS. for “Having “Government’s WFP as support a partner and Mr will Keer positive help with said promotion this, explained as

guidance. by of this raising renewable awareness industry on the the is gold crucial WRS and milling and providing similar plants to had trainings other industries what the the repayment market This is looking of includes long outstanding for, WFP exporters

a capacity of processing 30 can VAT contribute claims would to enhancing be extremely agents smallholder beneficial, who wish farmer’s but to we request confidence understand in that the with system. the tonnes COVID-19 per pandemic day and it would would “This be was difficult crucial to to expect its for development, re-entry too much at of as this their they time,” are goods

operational next month. the Mr Thomas. main food producers Zambia in Zambia,” and Ms consignments Sampa said. Mr The Thomas warehouse said ZaCFA operator He was issues indicated considering an electronic that setting the

whose customs declarations receipt up a tannery for the or produce, cooperate company which with can an existing be was used expected tannery to to secure that would a loan build from the a local financial were manufacturing institution. fully processed base of but the

obtain the mineral processing value-added This will help leather farmers products to goods access in have order the much-needed not to boost yet made finance local processing to invest in and agriculture production. license and by ensures the end that of food this is stored And member, properly Suresh to reduce exist. Desai, losses. said crocodile

month as it was in the farms In addition, played the an important WRS allows This role farmers in is the in Zambian to view sell their of the goods communities. to structured Mr Desai markets, process. said the where crocodile they will industry earn

developments arising from more employs than people they do from through rural communities, informal “We will markets. then with proceed some Under farmers this partnership, having built global WFP clinics, will effects increase churches of uptake the and Covid-

in education the WRS facilities. by mobilising smallholder farmers and raising awareness on the trading platform.