Mumbwa farmers cautioned against being exploited

unscrupulous maize traders have invaded Mumbwa District, buying a 50 kilogram bag of maize grain at as low as K160.

Central Province Assistant Secretary, Brave Mazuba, has since advised farmers in Mumbwa to be wary of unscrupulous maize traders who have invaded the district to buy the grain at an exploitative price.

ZANIS reports that Mr Mazuba was speaking in Mumbwa when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Mumba of the Ila people.

“Government, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), will always be there to buy maize from the farmers at an appropriate price so that our farmers can get a return out of their investment,” he said.

He cautioned further the farmers against being exploited by private maize buyers, whose interest is to make huge profits.

Mr Mazuba said the selling of a 50 kg bag of maize at K160 to briefcase maize buyers is an act of fraud, advising farmers to guard against selling their produce at a giveaway price.

He stressed that it is the government’s desire to see farmers getting a return out of their investments by selling maize at appropriate prices to FRA and private buyers.

Mr Mazuba advised the farmers to be patient and wait for the commencement of the 2026 crop marketing season to avoid being exploited by some unscrupulous private buyers.

He said the government has liberalised the economy to allow farmers to sell their maize within and outside the country but not at exploitative pricing.

And Chief Mumba condemned the desperation of selling maize to unscrupulous traders at a giveaway price by farmers in the area.

“Briefcase buyers are here in Mumbwa buying maize at K160 per 50 kg bag. As traditional leadership, we are appealing to the government to announce the maize price for the 2026 crop marketing season to save the farmers from exploitation,” Chief Mumba said.

Meanwhile, Alness Mutakwa, one of the private maize buyers said they are buying maize between K160 and K180 per 50 kg bag in the district.