• Government to make considerations by the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) to lift the ban on the maize exportation.
• The ministry is carrying out consultations to see how much maize stock is within the country.
• Government is making the stringent restrictions on the export of Maize in order to see to it that the price of mealie meal is stabilized.
Agricultural Minister says government will make the considerations by the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) to lift the ban on the exportation of maize.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Michael Katambo says the ministry is carrying out consultations to see how much maize stock is within the country, by analyzing the commodity held by the Food Reserve Agency (ZRA), the private traders, as well as the Grain Traders Association of Zambia themselves.
Mr Katambo adds that the government is making the stringent restrictions on the export of Maize in order to see to it that the price of mealie meal is stabilized in the country, because food security is national security even at household level.
“Food security is national security even at household level, so the country is making these the stringent restrictions to see to it that we stabilize the price of mealie meal on the market,” he said.
He said government is not going to abruptly lift the export of maize, because the development may result in a further increase in prices of mealie meal on the market.
Mr Katambo further noted that government is still consulting and gathering information on the ground to see how quickly the borders can be opened for maize exports.
Meanwhile Mr Katambo added that government managed to procure Hundred and Seven Thousand liters of chemicals for the containment of army worms in the country.
The Agriculture Minister explained that the chemicals have since been delivered in all the ten Provinces of Zambia
Mr Katambo noted that Agricultural offices at district level and various camps in the country have been given the chemicals so that they can distribute it to farmers affected by the outbreak of army worms in their fields.
“That is why you have seen that country wide the issue of army worms this farming season has been effectively controlled,’’ he said.
He said this is the more reason the issue of army worms in this year’s farming season has been effectively controlled as compared to last year.
