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Lubinda cautions farmers against unscrupulous maize dealers

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President Edgar Chagwa Lungu with Agriciculture minister Given Lubinda at Klein Karoo Seed field demonstration in Chisamba during the Agritech Expo Zambia 2015 on Saturday, April 18, 2015. PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE ©2015
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu with Agriciculture minister Given Lubinda at Klein Karoo Seed field demonstration in Chisamba during the Agritech Expo Zambia 2015 on Saturday, April 18, 2015. PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE ©2015

MINISTER of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda has cautioned farmers in Zambia against selling their produce to unscrupulous buyers.

Government last year pegged the maize floor price at K70 per 50 Kg bag.

Mr Lubinda said farmers should not get desperate for immediate cash and allow themselves to be exploited by dishonest buyers as the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) would purchase all their maize this marketing season.

The minister said in an interview on Tuesday that it is unfortunate that some farmers have already started selling their produce to vendors at a low price.

Mr Lubinda, however, said farmers are at liberty to negotiate on how much they can sell their maize to millers.

“Zambia is running a liberal economy and farmers are at liberty to negotiate with millers on how much they can sell their maize to them.

“Farmers should not sell their maize at lower prices, let them negotiate for better prices,” he said.

Mr Lubinda also urged farmers in the country, especially smallholders to venture into conservation farming.

He said conservation farming is paramount because it does not only enhance food productivity, but is also a good way of mitigating the impact of climate change.

Mr Lubinda further said Government will continue to investment in the agriculture sector because it plays an important role in employment creation as well as enhancing economic growth.

The minister also urged farmers to embrace new farming technologies to help cushion the impact of climate change. He said the unpredictable rain pattern still remains a challenge to farmers, hence the need for them to embrace new farming technologies to mitigate the impact of climate change.

5 COMMENTS

  1. That Lubinda has a wrong ministry. It is same as playing Mbesuma at center back.
    Harry Kalaba should have been in Agriculture and that Lubinda goes to Foreign ministry where he belongs.

    • What yardstick are you using to suggest this?
      Mr kalaba for me is just good at public relations.Why not give Lubinda enough time to find his niche in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

  2. I think we should stop demonising the private sector business men who buy maize directly from farmers , usually for cash on the spot. As
    In any market, these buyers play an important role , by taking advantage of the market inefficiency created by FRA – some farmers have immediate needs and cant wait for FRA payments which come 13 months down the line. The cost farmers pay for receiving payment early is of course justifiable and would be expected in any financial market. These business people include women who go into the inaccesible rural areas of Zambia scouring for maize. Rather than continue villifying these entreprenures , we should praise them for their hardwork and industry.

  3. The main reason why farmers resort to selling their produce to briefcase businessmen is because FRA take to long to pay them. Just imagine some waiting for months after selling to FRA for a meagre k700 for ten bags.
    By just talking like that you are not helping farmer, but instead come up with a more ideal way of paying farmers withing a week of their supplying of maize to FRA.

  4. FRA has flooded the market with their accumulated maize stocks. This is at a price of K65 per bag.

    Farmers, suffering undet drough conditions, are going door to door trying to look for a buyer in this market where millers have stockpiled maize at K65 in Lusaka.

    If thats the price in Lusaka, what will the peasant farmer be offerred in rural areas with transport costs and higher fuel ?

    Farmers are doomed this season.

    FRA should step in immediate and buy up at K70 in the rural areas. This is their stated intention. But the question is WHEN ?

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