MINISTER of Agriculture Given Lubinda has assured farmers that Government will not stop them from exporting maize next year since it wants to play a limited role in agricultural marketing.
Mr Lubinda also said the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will only enter the market when the private sector is satisfied with the buying of maize and other crops.
He was speaking at the launch of the Zambia Agriculture Commodity Exchange (ZAMACE).
The exchange is expected to provide an efficient trading platform supported by a warehouse receipt system to enhance market access, liquidity and credibility in the commodities market.
Mr Lubinda said Government has started taking steps to create an agriculture-based economy.
“Government will have very little role to play in agricultural marketing. We will leave it to those [private sector] who know it well.
The FRA will not be the buyer of first resort; they will be restricted to their mandate of buying strategic reserves,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said millers should start fending for themselves because FRA will no longer offload maize to them.
“I urge millers, brewers and producers of stock feed to partner with farmers and enter into contract farming where farmers can grow on their behalf.
“Next year, no farmer will be stopped from exporting maize. So, you can grow as much grain as you can. We will not stand in your way,” he said.
Farmers will now have access to finance through depositing their crops into any ZAMACE certified warehouse and a receipt will be issued that can be redeemed for cash at the bank.
ZAMACE, which is supported financially by Musika, will also be offering a secure and transparent commodity trading platform which includes buying and selling of commodities.
It will ensure compliance with industry to industry acceptable grades and standards, facilitate trade in Zambian commodities futures contracts with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and providing market information.
Perfect timing, right before the 2016 elections! Good move but Zambians wont forget PF equated to Paya Farmer just yesterday.
tons of maise already being exported to zim-go to choma and see. Trucks loads being loaded and shipped out everyday!
Saying the obvious. There will be hunger next year. Fertiliser yadula na mvula yachedwa. You can only make such an announcement after you accurately project the harvest
There goes our maize without value addition… export processed maize such as mealie meal and stock feed to create jobs locally and add value to the economy!
Same as the minister that reversed the importation of edible oil.
Talk think later.
Finally, after FOUR YEARS of chaos, confusion, late delivery of inputs, and a doubling of mealie meal prices these Paya Farmer clowns have come back a FULL CIRCLE to where we were in 2011!
We told you then. Did it take four years and the crashing of the Economy for you incompetents to wake up?
It is now our responsibility as Bloggers to educate our Families in the Villages thus Small Scale Farmers, the possible benefits of the Warehouse Receipt System. Tell them about accessibility to Finance through Banks and the power of bargaining with the Trader. No more Exchanging with cheap second hand clothing. GRZ can then use the money spent to buy Maize through FRA on other Projects.