The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) says the decision by the government to put an administrative measure on the export of maize outside the country is having a direct impact on the farmers.
Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo in October announced that government had put an administrative measure on the export of maize outside the country clarifying that the restrictive measure is not a ban but a temporal measure to ensure food security in the nation.
ZNFU Media and Public Relations Manager Calvin Kaleyi says farmers produce enough to even export but that some measures put in place by the government restricts them from exporting outside the country.
Mr. Kaleyi says sometimes export permits are delayed whenever the farmers want to export their produce.
He has advised against what he has termed as ‘silent bans’ on the export of maize and allow them to sale their produce to their preferred buyers be it locally or internationally.
“Last year, the government came up with a mechanism of ten percent tax on maize export, this made it uncompetitive on the international market. These silent bans are not helping the farmers,” said Mr. Kaleyi.
He laments that some farmers are even beaten for moving grains from one point to the other because of the same announced administrative measure by the government.
He says there is a huge stock on the Zambian market and the carry over maize from last year’s farming season.
The ZNFU Spokesperson has also advised the government to ensure that the distribution of farming inputs is done before October so that by the first week of December, the farmers can plant their seeds.
“The best time to plant the seeds is the first and second week of December. So the inputs should be delivered by October, so that in November, the inputs are sitting with the farmers. This also helps them to plan well for the farming season,” he said.
Mr. Kaleyi also calls on the Food Reserve Agency to ensure that farmers who supply their maize to the agency are paid on time for them to make an initial K400 contribution towards the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
The ZNFU Media and Public Relations Manager was speaking during Money FM Business Radio’s Your Consumer Rights Programme that airs every Wednesday at 9hrs.
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