Agriculture expert, Oliver Kandela Bulaya has questioned the government’s approach to maize marketing, warning that suffocating private sector participation can leave farmers struggling to find reliable buyers for their produce.
Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Bulaya said government communication about the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and its planned funding for 2027 must be clear to avoid discouraging farmers from producing maize and other crops.
He warned that reports suggesting reduced FRA purchases can send the wrong signal to farmers, potentially pushing them towards alternative crops and undermining national production targets, including the ambition to produce 10 million metric tonnes of maize.
“Government officials must be very careful with the information they give because when farmers hear that the FRA will not buy their maize, they may decide to grow other crops that can give them money, and that could affect the country’s production targets,” said Bulaya.
He added that the risk is particularly concerning amid climate uncertainties associated with El Niño, arguing that any reduction in the area planted by farmers can worsen future supply shortages if production is also affected by adverse weather.
Bulaya said the FRA should focus on securing the country’s strategic food reserves while the private sector takes a stronger role in buying, aggregating, processing and exporting agricultural produce.
“If government becomes the major buyer of agricultural commodities, it suffocates private sector participation, yet these businesses create employment and provide markets for farmers, so the two sides must work together,” he said.
However, Bulaya explained that private buyers also face significant operating costs, including electricity tariffs and fuel expenses, which affect the prices they can offer farmers, particularly maize millers whose purchasing prices has faced criticism.
He urged the government to address these cost pressures and create conditions that will allow private buyers to offer competitive, cost-reflective prices while paying farmers promptly, instead of leaving the market heavily dependent on government purchases.
Bulaya said the government’s decision to reduce its direct involvement in buying maize can be a positive step if it strengthens private sector participation, but warned that farmers must clearly understand where they will sell their produce before making planting decisions.
He added that improving productivity per unit of land and ensuring farmers receive better returns will be essential to sustaining agricultural growth, motivating production and achieving the country’s wider food security and economic development targets.
Article by Philip Sinkala
