Farmers in Monze district of Southern province have expressed disappointment over this year’s maize floor price, which was announced by government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) last week.
According to a statement made available in Monze and signed by Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Monze branch chairman Simon Malambo, farmers in Monze were not happy with the K65, 000 floor price per 50 kilogram bag of maize.
Mr. Malambo said farmers would have preferred a price of up to K75, 000 per 50 kg bag of maize because production costs for those who purchased fertilizer from private sellers not less than K2.8 million per hectare.
In the last agriculture season, a 50 kilogram bag of fertilizer was costing an average cost of K250, 000.
He said basing the calculation of the floor price on the cost of fertilizer under Fertilizer Support Programme of K50, 000 per 50kg bag was disadvantaging some farmers that never got fertilizer from the FSP.[quote]
He explained that the development would incapacitate some farmers from purchasing fertilizer for the next farming season because they would have enough money.
Mr. Malambo noted that this would mean that the number of farmers that would require FSP support for the next farming season would increase.
He added that this would promote a dependency syndrome among farmers in the district.
Mr. Malambo said encouraging the dependence syndrome among farmers through dishing out handouts in form of food relief and inputs through FSP would contribute greatly to destroying of the farming industry in the district.
He said farmers who were members of the Pemba-Monze Association were in support of ZNFU’s position on the floor price.
Mr. Malambo wondered who the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives consulted before setting the floor price.
He said government must ensure that stakeholders and farmers themselves were consulted extensively at district, provincial and national levels in order to strike a balance in its decision over the matter.
ZANIS
This price is too because the cost of fertilisers is about K250000. The govt must work hard to sell fertilisers to all farmers at a reduced price if they want the cost of producing maize go down.
Yes this price is too low because the cost of fertilisers is around K250 000 per bag
really this price is too low
There is no doubt that the Agriculture is set for a downturn. The government is either clueless or composed of sadists. They are kicking the farmers in the teeth. Today the commercial farmers cannot sell 65 000 tonnes of their Nov/Dec 2008 because this forward thinking govt allowed millers and other connected people to import duty-free wheat . Whereas in neighbouring countries maize is being bought at K85 000 per bag in Zambia the price has been set at K65 000. This price was agreed upon by the FRA and Millers to the exclusion of farmers who grow the maize. I have never seen this kind of madness anywhere in the world.
What i dont understand is this same floor price in a “liberised economy” Rural dwellers get fertiliser at a subside.A commercial farmer does not enjoy such priviledges,the cost of production is certainly high,now how does he compete with the so called floor price? he tries to export ,Govt says there is a ban,This whole floor price thing is jst a scam
You Farmers why are you complaining. Boma ni Boma. Thats why they did not even invite you for discussions. Kucenjela bati.
wanzelu, it i snot all the farmers who enjoyed the FSP benefits, please be advised that the FSP had even a scam where the fertiliser meant for peasant farmers ended up in the civil servants hands who later sold the commodity to the peasant farmers at 250 pin per bag. to me it seems the people who determines how much to sell at are the commercial farmers themselves
And the winner is , the man carrying the briefcase!! Do not complain, just sell all the maize to Zimbabwe. That is when RB will wake up.
Most comments here are based on ignorance. The K65000 is a government offer price and does not compell anyone to sale at this price. Farmers currently are selling their maize at an even lower price here in Kalomo. The prevelling market price is actually K45000 per 50kg bag. The farmers who will sell there crop to FRA will actually get a better deal. This business of critising just for the sake of should stop. Besides, government will only buy 110000 tons out of the 1.9 million tons. So where does the other maize go? To private buyers off course. So rather than concentrate on the government offer price, find out what the private buyers are paying. My guess….. less than the government price. That is why government has more support in rural areas
Besides you characters in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt are the same ones who will start throwing stones if the price of mealie meal increases any further. But probably you are too dull to know that the implications of a higher maize purchase price translates to a higher price of mealie meal. Just continue shouting “Pa Bwato” than commenting on things that are clearly beyond you
Farmers don’t sit back and cry over meagre prices offered by the government. start producing finished products which will fetch more for your labours. Alternatively switch to other crops.
Be choosers for once and not beggars.
In as much as i give complements to the Government for so many things, i regret to say the Agriculture policies are still not of internationally competing standards. I noticed this from the cabnet of my presidetial candidate when he moved into the sensitive food ministry a self admitted lay person in the field of Agriculture. Chituwo is a specialised personnel who should be utilised were his services would be needed most. We need someone qualified enough to help with policy formulation in Agric. All these things of floor prices would be taken care of. FRA employees should also be put on survailance, They should not buy commodities from farmers at a cheaper price using FRA money to resell again to FRA using their relatives. Lets be responsible citizens.
Instead of always complaining, all maize farmers should boycot planting maize next farming season. ALSO remember to reserve some from this season for future use when there will no maize. That way the Govt will be made to sit up
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