The Small Scale Farmers Association has welcomed the floor price of maize which the government has announced for 2021 crop marketing season.
Government has pegged the cost of a 50 kilogramme (kg) bag of maize at K150.
Small Scale Farmers Association Director Noel Simukonda told ZANIS today that the price is good for the farmers who got subsidised farming inputs from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Mr. Simukonda said the 2021 floor price will improve the income levels of about one million small scale farmers who accessed fertilizers and inputs through FISP
‘‘K150 is quite a good price and they will get some kind of profit,” he said.
He however observed that small scale farmers who bought unsubsidized inputs might not get the best profit out of the K150 floor price.
He has since urged farmers who benefitted from FISP to be patriotic enough and sell their farm produce such as maize, soya beans and rice to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) since they got the inputs at a relatively lower price.
The FRA has announced that it will purchase a 50 kg bag of white maize at K150 in the 2021/2022 crop marketing season.
FRA Board Chairperson Kelvin Hambwezya said in Lusaka that the agency will also purchase a 50 kg bag of soya beans at K500 and 40kg of paddy rice at K200.
Mr. Hambwezya disclosed that the purchasing price of white maize has increased by 40 per cent from the previous crop marketing season and farmers will be paid as soon as they deliver the commodity to FRA.
He noted that that the agency’s prices will not disadvantage the private sector who are expected to purchase the larger share of the 3.6 million metric tonnes of maize.
During the 2019/2020 marketing season, the price of maize was at K110 per 50 kg bag.
The Small Scale Farmers Association clearly doesn’t realize that the value of the Kwacha has gone down the drain with 50% thanks to the disastrous economic policies of the corrupt PF government, headed by the worst president the country has ever had!
WHO SAYS THEY ARE HAPPY PF ????????
THIS IS STILL NOT AN ECOMONICAL PRICE
ATLEAST K200
At K150 per bag, how much will a bag of mealie meal cost???
This is good news to our hard working and patient farmers. Thank you PF government for delivering the inputs on time just like it used to be in the UNIP government. We pray that ECL and NL go through on August 12 for continuity.
HAS ANYONE ON HERE DONE THE ACTUAL COST OF GROWING MAIZE ????????
I SAY NO JUDGING BY THE PRAISE BEING GIVEN TO THIS LOW PRICE CRAZY !!!
We are here for you farmers. You are welcome and we look forward to your usual votes in August. Amen
$7 per 50 kg bag! In UK iwisa millie meal costs $11 per 2kg. If Zambians were allowed to export maize like the South African farmers do, poverty would be eradicated within 5 years. This requires political will; to add value to the maize Zambians produce. Please Zambians, let us give HH a chance to lead Zambia for even just 5 years. If he fails, we can get Tasila Lungu in 2026.
HH IS ALREADY THERE FEAR NOT
THE SEWERAGE TR00ll MUST HAVE BEEN GIVEN HIS RIGHTS LAST NIGHT
NO INSULTS WOW TIMES ARE CHANGING …
POLITE OR NOT YOU NOT COMING ACROSS TO UPND I PROMISE YOU THAT
KEEP UP THE KINDNESS
Earlier, the country was only depended on the mining sector to bring in foreign currency. But now, President Lungu has made our agriculture sector so strong that it is becoming popular in the international market.
At present, Zambia exports blueberries and honey. And we believe that very soon maize and other crops would be joining them as exporters. Already seeing our agriculture sector growing beautifully!
President Lungu emphasizes education for the farmers and to make them export-oriented. Several seminars and workshops are continuously arranged to give more knowledge and training about farming to the farmers. This is a perfect example of a President with vision!!!
We have seen visible growth in the production of crops… which has increased food security in Zambia and helped farmers to grow economically. All this could possible only because of His Excellency.
The President has invested in the agricultural sector by introducing the appropriate reforms and legislation to create a conducive environment. We see him fulfilling his vision to make Zambia a poverty-free nation.
Zambians especially small scale farmer’s lives are improving under #ECL.
We are indeed witnessing a bumper harvest this year! If we want continuous growth then President Edgar Lungu is the only option! #Vote for ECL!!
The maize farmers defiantly going to get a major economic boost. Glad to see how FRA is working in the sector.
This is happy news for the farmers. They must be dancing with joy! Thank you Mr. President for bringing the smile back on their faces.
I think, President Lungu not only getting votes but also getting blessings from Zambians!