While the maize price stand-off rages, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has only managed to buy 10% of its targeted 500 000 tons of maize, said a source within the agency. This is as the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) intensified calls on farmers to hold back their crop. Last…
Maize price negotiations between the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and Food Reserve Agency (FRA) have stalled, say sources close to the talks. Meanwhile the grain buying exercise by FRA was still running at a slow pace. According to the sources, lengthy negotiations took place over the weekend but the…
The Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) has called on government to create an agricultural stabilisation fund to contain maize pricing volatility. This is as the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) recommended a slew of measures for de-regulation of the maize market. EAZ President Chrispin Mphuka said the creation of…
President Edgar Lungu has weighed in on the backlash over the maize price offer of K60/50kg, urging buyers and sellers to reach a mutually beneficial outcome. Angry farmers have already garnered much sympathy, including from millers who accuse the FRA of being stingy. “There should be a bargaining process so…
Zambian farmers are holding back their soya bean as they seek fair prices for their crop. At the same time the Small-scale Farmers Development Agency (SAFADA) has called on government to formulate policy to insulate local producers against price volatility caused by dumping. Scores of farmers interviewed by Africanfarming.com said…
President Edgar Lungu said government will consider preferential power tariffs for farmers. This follows an outcry by the Zambian National Farmers Union (ZNFU) after the country’s power utility company ZESCO imposed a massive power hike of 75%. Speaking on Tuesday, while he visited small and commercial farmers in Central Province,…
The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) has proposed K75/50kg as the floor price for maize in this year’s marketing season. Government is still mute on the issue. MAZ president Andrew Chintatala said their proposal, which is K5 less than last year’s price, must pass on the benefit of the bumper…
Price volatility has pushed out thousands of smallholder cotton growers, says the Cotton Board of Zambia (CBZ). According to CBZ, pricing remained a major issue since 2011 when global markets experienced a spike in lint prices. “Lack of a predictable pricing model has contributed to the decrease in the number…
“What price is a 50kg bag of soya beans now?”, asks Max from Kalushi in Central Province. According to the weekly report on the Zambian National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) site prices for soya beans in Zambia range from a low of K3 000/ton to a high of K5 200/ton across the…
Zambian soya bean growers are incensed by the low price for their crop this season. It is selling at K100 per 50kg bag. Irate farmers are now looking at exporting their crop or using it as stock feed to mitigate the poor market conditions. A posting on Zambia’s influential small-scale…
The price of potatoes (white or Irish potato) shot up by as much as K30 per 10kg pocket, after a decline in production due to high input cost. In places like Copperbelt, the situation is compounded by crop shortages. A quick survey of fresh produce outlets, including chain stores in…
The Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) have agreed to put 245 000 ton of maize on the market, ending a standoff between the traders and government. The offloading of maize would start immediately and continue until May, said Chambuleni Simwinga, GTAZ’s executive director. “We must be responsible, and we…