The Bumper harvest recorded by Zambia in the 2020/2021 Agro season will enable the country to earn foreign exchange from maize exports for a longer period into first quarter of 2022. The Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) says the maize grain export programme, which commenced on 1st October 2021 will run up to 30th April 2022.
The Ministry of Agriculture authorised exports of 450, 000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of maize grain following the stocks monitoring committee meeting held in September this year. There is also more maize that is yet to be mopped up across the country.
Association President Chambuleni Simwinga said 40, 000 MT will be exported in October, 50, 000 MT in November, 60, 000 MT in December this year and 70, 000 MT in January, February and March 2022 with the last quota of 90, 000 MT to be exported in April 2022 in order to facilitate smooth exports.
When asked how Zambian traders can participate, Simwinga said 70% of the maize grain was apportioned to members of GTAZ while 30% was allocated to non-GTAZ members and the export permits for both parcels are being issued through the Zambia Electronic Single Window (ZESW) platform.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Simwinga said non-GTAZ members were allowed to export up to 120 MT per month from 1st October to 31st December 2021 and up to 300 MT per month from 1st January to 30th April 2022.
He added that non-GTAZ members would apply for their monthly quota on a first come first serve basis, which will be timed by the ZESW platform noting that the association is negotiating to have non-GTAZ members export more quantities than the current allocation.
He noted that the GTAZ secretariat will monthly provide a list of participating companies with corresponding allocations for each monthly parcel adding that the current stock is being exported to Namibia, Botswana and Burundi.
He has thanked government for allowing the association as well as non-members of the association to export maize grain and has pledged to support government.
Simwinga has appealed to government to be consistent when it comes to the export programme because inconsistencies negatively affect the trade relations between the traders and the neighbouring countries.
“We are not trusted by our neighbours in terms of trade, they see us as very inconsistent, we can make deals and they pay us in advance but we fail to supply”, he said.
He said it is important for the technocrats who are still running the ministry in the new government to understand what it is to change the economy, as it is not about being persistent and strangely supportive of the old policies.
He added that proper advice in terms of agriculture policy direction is important as well as an efficient system noting that efficiency is cardinal for the exports to run smoothly and quickly.
