Senior Chief Nsokolo of Mbala District in Northern Province has rejected the proposed K70.00 floor price for a 50 kilogram bag of maize by the Ministry of Agriculture describing it a ‘Mockery’.
His Royal Highness argued that the Government should have instead considered increasing the price of the staple food to at least K 95.00 per 50kg bag than the K70.00, a mere increase of K5.00 from the price it was pegged at last year. This decision, his Royal Highness contends, would make the farmers make profit from their efforts put into the production of the country’s staple food and contribution to the national food security.
[pullquote]The government seems to mind the welfare of those in urban areas of which 80 percent are loafers, lazy layer abouts who can’t go back to the village, to be useful.[/pullquote]
“The price increase is a mockery. The government seems to mind the welfare of those in urban areas of which 80 percent are loafers, lazy layer abouts who can’t go back to the village, to be useful.”
“The Government shouldn’t forget the role of the farmer, who not only feeds the nation but also provides jobs to many whom the government can’t employ nor create employment for them”.
His Highness has appealed to the Government to consider reviewing priorities in the annual national budgets which have always favored the town dwellers at the expense of farmers and other stakeholders.
Issued by:
Jeff Kapembwa
Personal Assistant (PA)
I’m beginning to like our chiefs. Its like the sleeping giants are awakening and they are pissed at what they are finding. The government seems to mind the welfare of those in urban areas of which 80 percent are loafers, lazy layer abouts who can’t go back to the village, to be useful.” Viva chiefs-get your power back.We would be better off being lead by our wise chiefs.
If the chief believes that the market rate is K95 then he should sell to those willing to pay the amount; there is an unhealthy dependency on government in Zambia.
Well said…… about the floor price and the lazy 80 loafing in town. Zambia would have been in a better place if the loafers where cultivating the land.
welcome back to poor finishing world..pf world..kekekeke
I WISH ALL CHIEFS IN ZAMBIA CAN EMULATE PRODUCTIVE CHIEF MUKUNI INSTEAD OF JUST DRINKING KACHASU FROM MORNING TO BED TIME. CHIEF MUKUNI IS PART OF UN EMPLOYMENT SOLUTION. HE IS AN EMPLOYER.
I wonder how many people from his village pay taxes, he should think about it when he receives his salary before insulting the hand that feeds him, the urban population!
These farmers should not even complain, they get free inputs, that is a problem with Zambians we like complaining even when we have the best farming policy. Market prices for commodities like corn,sugar, coffee etc do not change very much year after year, sometimes they even drop below the price of the previous year depending on the production of that year!. This chief is forgetting that when Zambian corn becomes expensive, imports will become cheaper and many countries will take advantage and dump their excess in the country! Worst scenario, farmers with no market for their maize and the next farming season kicks in!