An array of stakeholders, including the Zambia National Farmers' Union (ZNFU), slated a proposal by the Zambian government to commercialise the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). The Zambian Ministry of Agriculture says that FRA can become commercially viable by raising revenue through grain exports. But ZNFU, Grain Traders Association (GTAZ), National…
Despite repeated assurances by government that administering its Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) on a complete electronic voucher (e-voucher) system would overcome problems that have plagued the delivery of farmer inputs, the massive logistical operation seems to be in disarray. This, as the end of the planting season fast approaches…
The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) predicts a drop in maize production for this year’s farming season. Farmers are likely to shun the crop due to poor returns. ZNFU President Jervis Zimba said many farmers say they will not grow commercial maize because of the meagre price offered by the…
With only a week before the close of the maize marketing season, Zambian farmers are selling their crop in panic. This while the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) said it won’t extend grain buying beyond the end of the month, when the marketing season closes. A survey conducted by Africanfarming.com showed…
President Edgar Lungu has assured farmers that the price of K60/50kg for white maize being offered by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), will be reviewed. The president’s statement comes after he for months refused to be drawn on the deadlock. The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) welcomed the statement. “President…
A fungal wheat disease has broken out in the Copperbelt, raising concerns that it will affect this year’s harvest. This comes amidst simmering tension between millers and producers over the price of wheat which was pegged at US$450/per ton. According to the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), the disease known as…
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…
The maize pricing stand-off has degenerated into a war of words between the Food Reserve Agency’s (FRA) Executive Director Chola Kafwabulula and Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) President Jervis Zimba. Reacting to Zimba calling FRA’s price offer of K60/50kg for white maize a “swindle”, Kafwabulula is now threatening to sue…
Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) president Jervis Zimba is cautioning that farmers will dump maize cultivation in the next farming season. His warning comes as the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) insists that its offer of K60/50kg for maize is final. “This will have dire consequences for national food security as…
Maize price negotiations between the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) have broken down with the union abandoning talks to pursue direct discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture. A reliable source told Africanfarming.com that ZNFU at the weekend decided to talk to government directly, after…
The drop in fuel prices announced this week will have limited impact on farmers as lower grain values and high input costs will offset any savings from cheaper energy, said the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU). “The price of fertiliser is still high. Unless we look at the figures, it…
A transporter contracted by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has abandoned 150 tons of maize in North Western Province, triggering fears of grain going to waste. Provincial Minister Richard Kapita told local media the transporter abandoned the maize because of the poor state of the road connecting the satellite depot…
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 Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has issued an ultimatum to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to meet farmers over the price of maize. This is as the farmers’ union reiterated its call to farmers to hold back from selling maize to FRA. The state-owned grain buying agency has set…
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…
The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) is fuming over what it says is a continued trend of Zambia being increasingly a dumping ground for foreign agricultural products. This is as local producers complained of being marginalised by imports, mainly from South Africa. ZNFU President Jervis Zimba said the ‘free flow’…
Zambia’s state grain buying entity, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), is selling 100 000 tons of maize from its strategic reserves to create storage space for new crops. The FRA is expected to buy 500 000 tons this marketing season. “This is white maize designated for export at various depots…
A turf war is raging to keep imported South African white potatoes out of the Zambian market. Sources close to tough negotiations between the Zambian government and the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) say local farmers, both small and commercial producers, are concerned that the imported potatoes are choking local…
A Kenyan delegation is in Zambia to seal a deal with government on the import of maize, says Finance Minister Felix Mutati. According to Mutati the delegation is a combination of grain buying associations in the east-African nation. Zambia registered a bumper harvest of 3.6 million tons of maize, enough…
The import of 150 000 tons of wheat to avert a looming national shortage is hanging in the balance because of the 10% import duty, says Andrew Chintala, president of the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ). “The 10% duty on imported wheat is too high and must be waived because…
The Zambian government has reversed the 10% export duty on raw maize following an outcry from farmers. The duty was ostensibly imposed to encourage value addition and job creation. Farmers relentlessly fought against the tax, describing it as a major policy inconsistency that will discourage increased grain productivity. Zambian National…
President Edgar Lungu has challenged farmers to produce more to get a waiver on the 10% maize export duty. “We introduced the export tax on maize exports to preserve food security and not as a measure of revenue collection. Therefore, farmers must invest heavily to produce more maize for local…
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…
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested four men found in possession of K100 000 in counterfeit notes. They used it to buy maize from unsuspecting farmers in Zambia’s Central Province. Before their arrest, the four bought K14 500 worth of maize from two unsuspecting farmers using the counterfeit notes.…
