BuyZed Campaign says Zambia National Farmers Union’s (ZNFU) request for government to ban importation of edible oils is in good faith.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Organization Founder Evans Ngoma however, stated that there is already a partial ban on importation of vegetable oils because Zambia has the capacity to produce the oil on a large scale.
Mr. Ngoma observed that the country has the muscle required to grow soya beans, sunflower, groundnuts, as there is a very big Palm Oil farm in Mpika district which is one of the major raw materials to produce vegetable oil.
The request by ZNFU President Mr. Jervis Zimba requesting government to ban importation of edible oils is in good faith though currently government is however implementing that one, there is a partial ban on importation of vegetable oils.”
“However during this period we are seeing much of smuggled vegetable oil. So I think the call comes at a better time because I think Zambia as a country today has capacity in terms of growing soya beans, sunflower, groundnuts, and then when you get down to Mpika, there is a very big farm for palm oil which is one of the major raw materials to produce vegetable oil,” Mr. Ngoma said.
He added that ZNFU’s request must be supported by all well-meaning Zambians, further urging producers of the raw materials to scale up production so that they do not starve consumers on the market.
“So it is just okay as long as producers of these raw materials can scale up production so that we do not starve our consumers on the market, otherwise it is just fine,” he added.
Recently, ZNFU President Jervis Zimba expressed concern over the continued importation of edible oils.
He wondered why the country was still importing cooking oil when it produces enough soyabeans, sunflower, and cotton, adding that this is the time the country must see to it that products that are locally produced should not be imported in order to grow the market to the local products