Government has commenced the process of addressing the issue of escalating mealie meal prices which has currently been an issue of great concern on the Zambian market. Agriculture minister Michael Katambo has since pledged to the public that the process will not take more than three weeks. Mealie meal is Zambia’s staple food and considered the most toxic political issue.
Some outlets in Lusaka spot-checked by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT have shown that a 25 Kilograms breakfast bag is now going at a range from K130, K135 and K140 while reports from Southern Province indicate that a bag of 25Kg is going at K144.
Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo says government has noted the extreme increase in mealie meal prices on the market which has made it unaffordable for most Zambians.
Speaking during the Maize industry stakeholder meeting at Lusaka’s Mulungushi Conference Center on 15 August 2019, Katambo said maize is an important crop in Zambia as it affects the lives of many Zambians and has the ability transform the agriculture sector and contribute to the economy of this country if correct measure and policies are in put place.
He said government has decided to transform the agriculture sector including the maize industry with regard to increasing maize production and making maize an export crop which will also lead to mealie meal prices finding an equilibrium price on the market.
And to increase production, the Agro minister stated that “we have to address the issue of climate change and be consistent in our policies and take advantage of the huge export markets in our neighboring countries and as government , we are working hard to tackle the issues that have affected maize production,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Maize Industry Stakeholder discussion was meant to resolve and agree on implementing measures that can be put in place to ensure mealie meal prices are affordable to all but the way forward is not known as the plenary session was held in a closed door meeting, in secret.
And efforts by ZBT to find out the agreed resolutions to this matter, Agriculture Minister stated in a statement that there are a number of reasons causing the rise in mealie meal prices and that government will soon announce to the public on the way forward.
He said technocrats in the ministry are interrogating the proposed measures in collaboration with private sector stakeholders and that measures will be announced as soon as the process is completed.
The minister has since assured the public that the process will not take more than three weeks and has advised Zambians and all players in the industry to stay calm and wait for the final way forward pertaining to the escalating mealie meal prices.
Government and the various stakeholders in the industry have concluded with an action plan that has detailed measure that will boost and transform the maize industry. If we are to double maize production, tough decisions have to be made now.
