The National Union for Small Scale Farmers – NUFSSFZ in Zambia has called on government through the Ministry of Agriculture to reconsider suspending the export of Maize and Mealie meal as it is likely to invite price volatility.
During the 3-day 2019 Agritech expo themed “growing knowledge of the future” held at Chisamba last week, President Edgar Lungu directed the Ministry of Agriculture to immediately suspend the export of maize and mealie-meal until Zambia takes full stock of the food reserves.
President Lungu reversed the decision to allow for exports following the dry spells experienced in the southern parts of the country and the spike in mealie meal prices following the resumption of maize and mealie meal exports.
And NUSSFZ Chief Executive Office Frank Kayula told Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that closing borders for small scale farmers in a small market like Zambia will invite the prospect of significant price volatility hence the need for government to keep markets open to sustain the incentives for farmers to engage in maize production.
Kayula said government should instead strengthen the regulatory aspect and issuing of export licenses for Maize and Mealie-meal as suspending the exports completely will make it difficult for the private sector to undertake re-investment decisions.
He says it is considerate that Zambia needs to secure food reserves as a nation, but there is need to consider importing from cheaper sources to ensure that the private sector can keep their supply agreement with outsiders as opposed to re-instating the ban.
“One day will reach a situation where buyers will say Zambia is unstable and will not rely on us to purchase the commodity hence, they’ll forget about us and farmers will not have access to foreign markets in order to increase their income,” he said.
He added that the union notes government’s efforts to improve the private sectors players situation in the country by timely distribution of inputs adding that more of that is needed not only for employment but for farmers to be able to sustain their businesses.
Kayula has however advised farmers to get ready to harvest and not be carried away by the instability of prices adding that there’s need to maintain their food security while conducting their businesses to lessen the burden of having shortage of maize – the country’s staple food.
