GOVERNMENT has said there is no reason for the price of mealie meal to remain high following the historic bumper harvest of more than 2.7 million tonnes of maize recorded this year.
Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Peter Daka said it was Government’s expectation that the price of mealie meal would reduce drastically to make it more accessible to an ordinary person.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Daka said the Government was confident that the millers would play their part by ensuring that the price of mealie meal was reduced.
“As Government our position is that there is no reason why the price of mealie meal should remain high following the historic bumper harvest the country has recorded. It will only be fair that the prices are reduced for the benefit of Zambians,” he said.
He said the price of mealie meal should be reduced because there was sufficient maize in stock and that it would only be fair for the millers to reduce the price of the commodity instead of resisting in the name of making profits.
The minister said Government was engaging millers for discussions on how best the price of mealie meal could be reduced and was confident that the objective of cheaper mealie-meal would be realised.
Last week, Mr Daka announced that Zambia had recorded an unprecedented bumper harvest of more than 2.7 million tonnes of maize, representing a 48 per cent increase from last year.
The record yield has been attributed to the positive policies put in place by the Government in the agriculture sector, such as the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the enhanced extension services.
Zambia had a maize surplus of 1,085,709 tonnes and the increase in the number of people on the FISP programme from 200,000 to 500,000 also contributed to the bumper harvest.
Speaking when he gave a 2010 crop forecasting survey in Lusaka, Mr Daka said the only time Zambia had a crop output close to this year’s was during the 1988/89 farming season when a production of 1,943,219 tonnes was recorded.
This year, Zambia recorded 2,795,483 tonnes.
He reiterated that the aim of the Government when launching the FISP was to increase production.
And at the weekend, immediate past president of the Millers Association of Zambia Caleb Mulenga said the bumper harvest recorded in the 2009/10 season would translate into reduced mealie meal prices.
[Times of Zambia]
Well done Govt on this one.The FISP has worked as planned and now let FRA buy the produce at a good price befitting the farmers’ hard work.
Good job govt. and congratulations to the small scale, peasant and commercial farmers.
Then next year the will be a shortage because we will sell all this maize to DRC and Zimbabwe. We just cant get it right.
Congats RB, as afarmer you understand what farmers need. You will go down history as presiding over largest harvest ever. Please let Mr Sata know about this…..
Well done MMD administration! If you keep up the good work, we will definitely support you in 2011.=d>
Well done!
The Agric sector is booming. 2.7 million Tonnes is impressive.
Zambia needs to work on value addition like manufacturing of Corn Flakes, Doritos, etc…
Well done RB! You have done far better than your predecessors here!
dont get too excited, they have a tendancy of talking of bumper harvests that dont exist then in 3 months time, zambia will be listed as one of the countries severely hit by hunger. remember last year they expoted all the maize and the zambian population was starving and mealie meal prices were un imaginably high.
Pleasing news to hear. Those millers however will not reduce the prices of mealie meal because of monopoly. Encourage Zambians to invest in milling. For example, let millers competing in all provinces to increase supply that will surpus demand. Then mealie meal will reduce following the law of demand and supply.
Where are all PF cadres to say that all these figures are rubbish? This is good news and am sure will help the MMD secure the rural vote once again.
We will burn all this maize when we come into power
Indeed, I join my well meaning internet friends congratulating the government for a job well done. A country endowered with so much potential should not be importing the staple food. Being food secure is a strong step to addressing the other economic fundamentals in the coming year.
Its better to wait and see as we have heard such talks before. We had a bumper harvest and suddenly we went begging for maize! memories are still fresh. If its true and this forecast is tangible, then ensure we dont go hungry just in the first 4 months. we need to go all the way to november
I can agree with the observation of a bumper harvest this year in Zambia. I for one, I see this as a combination of factors, MAJOR OF WHICH IS THE FAVOURABLE RAIN PATTERN, coupled with the Fertiliser Program. I can testify honestly that my relations in Kapiri’s Kampoyo area have never had a better harvest than this year! Yet this year they did not obtain any fertiliser from the Cooperative Schemes (FSP) because of the delays and mal-administration of the system. I had to personally facilitate them getting some money in order to buy the fertiliser & they did this in time! Those who relied on the FSP had a rough experience coz of delays and my relative who bought the fertiliser in time are far better off than those relied on FSP. Residents of Kampoyo area can testify to this fact! (no…
It seems I’m behind. Where’s Chitowu? Anyone to update me on Zambian ministers
Hello Ppl! Did you here about the discovery that Omega 3 found in fish makes the mind sharp. Could this be attributed to the samartness of the Lozis, since it is their main dish. Can somebody do a research, as this has been proven eslewhere where poeple eat a lot of fish
#15, Omega 3’s are great for the development of the brain, eyes and nerves. These fatty acids are found not only in fish (specifically salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, anchovies) but in walnuts, flax seed or linseed (6 times more). Eggs from free-range chickens are a good source too.
However, it’s not possible to be entirely smart if one focuses only on food. We must take care of the whole person: the spirit, soul and body.
My two ngwee’s worth. deuces, mune:)>-
Good job Zedland! For the first time ever, Zedland has equalled (per capita) South Africa in maize production.
#10 PF Cadre – you’re probably the only person in the whole of Zed who can cut off your own nose to spite your face, the low of the lowlifes.
What even be better is when we add value to that maize in form of such products as corn flakes and others, not just exporting as raw as it is..
What would even be much better is when we add value to that maize in form of such products as corn flakes and others, not just exporting as raw as it is..