The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) has said that it is vexed that import permits for processed meats and meat products have continued to be issued, ultimately disregarding the protection our livestock sub-sector has against these cheaply imported products.
In a statement released to the media, ZNFU said that they have taken time to survey the market and it is saddening that a wide array of processed meats; such as polonies, bacon, smoked sausages, and even fish, from as far as Portugal, Mexico and Brazil are finding their way in some of our multinational shopping outlets.
ZNUFU said that allowing the importation of processed meat and other meat products goes against Zambia’s resolve to protect the country’s domestic value chains against cheaply imported products which is a signal that something is very wrong.
ZNUFU appealed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, led by Prof Nkandu Luo, to quickly arrest this situation before Zambia lose the livestock sector to unfair foreign competition.
Below is the full statement
Press Release
15 th December 2019
IMPORTATION OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS CONTINUES UNABATED
The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) is vexed that import permits for processed
meats and meat products have continued to be issued, ultimately disregarding the protection our livestock sub-sector has against these cheaply imported products.
As ZNFU, we have taken time to survey the market and it is saddening that a wide array of
processed meats; such as polonies, bacon, smoked sausages and even fish, from as far as
Portugal, Mexico and Brazil are finding their way in some of our multinational shopping
outlets.
Allowing the importation of processed meat and other meat products goes against our
resolve to protect our domestic value chains against cheaply imported products which is a
signal that something is very wrong. It is inconceivable to land these products cheaper in
Zambia than our very own locally produced products. The subsidies extended to primary
producers at source is the main cause of this uneven playing field, thereby hindering growth of the domestic livestock industry.
We cannot emphasise more on how important the livestock industry is to many of our
farmers as a source of livelihood and the country’s diversification agenda. For as long as we
continue approaching extremely important national agricultural issues such as putting a lid
on needless imports in a nonchalant manner, we should forget about diversification; and
about being the regional agriculture hub.
The ZNFU is worried that the country continues to have individuals that are averse to the
growth of our local agriculture industry. For it is clear from the way issuance of import
permits have been conducted that such offices have their hearts elsewhere.
It is not rocket science that with continued imports of processed meats and meat products,
we are creating jobs in countries where these products are coming from. And, the much-
needed foreign exchange will continue being flighted to countries whose products we keep
promoting thus aggravating further currency depreciation.At the rate of issuance of these import permits, loss of investments in our livestock sector, which we have painstakingly grown over the years is eminent.
ZNFU is not promoting protectionism, but how can we allow processed meats and meat
products that we can ably produce, to land on our markets and disadvantage our own
products and sector? This requires through investigations. We humbly appeal to the Ministry
of Fisheries and Livestock to quickly arrest this situation before we lose our livestock sector
to unfair foreign competition.
We are ready to share a platform with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock by conducting
a tour of these multinational outlets selling cheaply imported processed meats and meat
products at low prices.
Jervis Zimba
PRESIDENT
Zambia National Farmers’Union
Two issues:
1. The imported products are on average 25-50% more expensive that equivalent local produce;
2. Quality if the imported products cannot be compared to local products which pale in the comparison.
To summarise, instead of complaining, either lower the cost of your produce which is of lower quality or use proper ingredients and production methods to compete on equal footing.
Zambia failed to export goat meat to Saudi Arabia. You failed to build a sustained value chain for continuous supplies of the required export volumes. Utubushi you have failed! Now you are telling me that you have sufficient stock of beef, dairy, poultry, fish, goat to sustainably supply the local markets with livestock derived products? The supermarkets logistics are in harmony with global safety requirements for the value chain. Local actors willing to participate in the chain should volunteer to build safety systems at a cost. The mistake you are about to make is similar to that of Hon Given Lubinda on the ban imported edible oils, which sent the markets into confusion characterized with higher prices of oils and related products. Ba ngwele imwe full of university degrees but drooly at…
full of university degrees but drooly at thinking. Build food systems and postharvest infrastructure to enhance competitive markets.
First off there is no law or act you have quoted to support the demand for protection. As @Abena Ng’umbo puts it, you are failing to satisfy local market with quality and crying for protection at the same time. Kwaliba!? Zambia needs to wisen up: even the ingredients you use in your processing of your local meat comes from those markets that are sending you THEIR processed goods. Unless and until we work on quality and localizing value addition this is a cry in the dark – when we switch on the lights we see how small and incapable our producers actually are. Awe shuwa ni bwela uuone… mwana wa mai!
This minister is lying on her laurels now after having a fallout with All Zambians because of being incorrigible hence now she can’t assist in any way that’s why she even rejected the goat export without undertaking a study, has she seen how many goats cross over to the Congo?
What about the illegal makula tree exports involving your president kaizar lungu or is it edgar Zulu? Why aren’t arrests being made when we have video evidence from witnesses naming your ugly president and teethy daughter. Its agony to be ugly on inside but even worse to be ugly on outside like lungu and this warthog nkandu luo
This is the problem when you have a hopeless thieving GRZ lead by a clueless drunk……..everything is left to private sector to sort out, all they are interested in is harassing the opposition.
GRZ should be fully involved and committed in establishing quality assurance training and food processing training so Zambian companies compete to cut exports and provide local jobs.
That is why an industrialisation minister makes more sense than a religious minister
No one can refuse to buy local products. In fact it is more preferable than imported products but the price of local products is the major discouraging factor. If they can be the same or even cheaper than imported products that is when the local industry can flourish and not through banning imported products just to sell local products.
Jervis, your members are their own failure through over-pricing, low quality and inefficiency. Work on these and you will capture more than 80 percent of the market. Remember, most Zambiand are living below the poverty line so PRICE is the arbiter. No need for government protection whatsoever, mate!
Jervis, your members are their own failure through over-pricing, low quality and inefficiency. Work on these and you will capture more than 80 percent of the market. Remember, most Zambians are living below the poverty line so PRICE is the arbiter. No need for government protection whatsoever, mate!
Import substitution is counter-productive. It is outdated. Following World War II, countries that exported more recorded surplus and high living standards. Without export quality products, there is low economic growth and low prosperity. Exports work but diversification and increased volume of exports can not be negotiable. Local industries need linkages with regional industries to achieve intended objectives. Properly dressed and displayed bananas are guaranteed export and local markets. Properly dressed and displayed Zambeef products are guaranteed export and local markets. Or are you saying Zambians must be forced to consume low quality products in the name of promoting local industries? The answer is no.