Government has disclosed that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) made more than K2 billion as profit from maize exports during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 crop marketing season.
Agriculture and Cooperative Deputy Minster Albert Mulonga told parliament today that the Agency exported about 246 Metric Tonnes of maize to seven countries in the southern African region.
He named the countries as Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania.
Mr. Mulonga explained that during the 2006/2007 marketing season, the country exported a total of 60,730 MT of maize valued at K58, 103 billion were as in 2007/2008 season the FRA exported 241,000,64MT at a value of K185, 906 billion.
He also disclosed that during this some period the profits were broken down as K6, 852 billion for 2006/2007 and K2, 696 billion for 2007/2008.
Mr. Mulonga was responding to a question asked by United Party National Development (UPND)’s Luampa Member of Parliament (MP) Mwiya Limata who wanted to know how much profit was made by FRA from maize exports in the following years 2006 ,2007 and 2008 and to which countries .
And Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Brian Chituwo clarified that these exports have nothing to do with current maize shortages in the country.
Dr. Chituwo explained that FRA only exports maize to neighboring countries when the country has enough grains to satisfy the local market.
Dr. Chituwo was answering to a question raised by UNPD Monze central MP Jack Muiimbu who wanted to know why FRA was exporting the staple food when the country does not have enough for the local market.
He said FRA is an Agency mandated by government to safe guard the food reservoirs of the country, adding that it only exports when it has more than enough.
He explained that the reason why FRA exports its surplus it is because it is the only way it raises funds to pay back the small scale farmers that supply maize to the Agency.
The Minster further said that FRA is expected to use some of the profits to improve it storage capacity by rehabilitating and constructing more maize storage facilities across the country.
ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS
:d
Efyo yaba futi, when there is no stable stapple food mu local?
FRA, Utilise this money effectively and transparently. [-o<^:)^
UBUPUBA UBWINEBWINE PA ZED. Can you export and then start importing GMO? This government can be impeached on many grounds.
Quite strange FRA exported maize in the 2007/8 season and had to import the same commodity at a higher price in the same season. Could ACC/Task Force on Corruption please probe this matter?
Just how will these profits be used? To bring in more GMO maize?
Mr. Mulonga explained that during the 2006/2007 marketing season, the country exported a total of 60,730 MT of maize valued at K58, 103 billion were as in 2007/2008 season the FRA exported 241,000,64MT at a value of K185, 906 billion.
He also disclosed that during this some period the profits were broken down as K6, 852 billion for 2006/2007 and K2, 696 billion for 2007/2008.
### these guys are telling lies. Look at the quantity sold and the profit made each season. In 2006/07 they sold 60,730 MT , sales =K58,241 000 , profit amost K6 billion.
In 2007/08 season.Quantity sold 241,000,64MT, sales K185,906 billion and Profit=K2,696 billon. These are lies .[-x[-x[-x[-x[-x
# 5.
You are very right. The story is not making sense. Why in the 2007/08 season exporting such a big amount when they new there was no maize in the country??? Chituo the man I respect soon will lose respect from me. What he is saying is so illogical. This is a case that needs investigation as to why they exported the all maize and then to start importing. This is stinking corruption. :-?:-?:-?:-?:-?:-?:-?
Nice weekend bloggers. Will you update us on the distasters that will be LT pa weekend? Hopefully, all will be in working order by Monday.
Wodwala Inn looks like the place this weekend and who knows for many more weekends to come.
Fine. And now? :d
Does the profit make sense when there is maize in the country? How do u export everything? Poor management ba sir.
K2 Billion profits! has someone droped some zeros, thats pea nuts!!! is that money to talk about at Govt level???? Does Zambia have any strategists in govt????? why export and import the same commodity!!! Zambia, we are a living joke!!!!!
12. Engine Bbuloko!
ba neighbor @shani!!
So what’s the way forward FRA? Please educate us, we’re still groping in the dark with these figures.:-b
This is the worst Government how on earth, just how on earth do report that; “FRA reaps over K2 billion profit from maize exports” and on ZBNC News you say “Mealie meal runs out” on the same day. The other Comedy is the NCC, its very shameful to watch that circus……
K2 billion or US$2 billion? If it is K2 billion then there is no need to subject the country to maize shortages.
One milling company would have paid that amount.
What a terrible shame! Do we have any economists around with that compatarive statistics? What’s K2bn compared to shortages?, and hig prices? Did you know that millers are being subsidised, and an expert has advised Governemnt this is not sustainable, and yet they conitnue to subsidise millers. Who is paying for those subsidies? Me, probably not you because you are in the diaspora.
Guys these old Madalas are completely out of touch with reality. Youths we need to dislodge this government. We don’t have serious and visionary leaders, are these guys in their right of minds? They all need psychiatric evaluation. Choma milling has no maize stocks and the company has since suspended production.
Think about it? I pay governemnt to subsidise millers to export maize to create a shortage to increase the price so that I will not find maize in the shop. Brilliant Musokotwanomics!!!
=))
%-(
:-w
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Why export then start importing? Just so shameful!! aaaaaa! let me sleep! blunder number 23 for this year!!! AAAAAAAA!
I hope this Minister (Albert Mulonga) giving a ministerial statement in parliament understands the difference between convectional (tangible) economics and intangible economics when discussing issues related to factors of production that shift according to economic era that society is experiencing. He has touch a very sensitive issue and I wouldn’t be surprised if government issues another statement contrary to what our Honourable Deputy MInister is saying. Anyway K2 Billion is nothing on a national level.
Lack of human and intellectual capacity bwana minister.
Guys these old Madalas are completely out of touch with reality. As youths we need to dislodge this government. We don’t have serious and visionary leaders, are these guys in their right frame of minds? They all need psychiatric evaluation. Choma milling has no maize stocks and the company has since suspended production.
A critical shortage of mealie meal has hit some districts in Western Province forcing some local milling firms to shut down their plants. And some millers have attributed the mealie meal shortage to the low supply of maize by the Food Reserve Agency.
APG Milling Mongu branch General Manager, Milorad Kuzmanovic, told ZANIS that Senanga, Kalabo and Kaoma APG branches had run out of mealie meal.Mr. Kuzmanovic said APG milling has only received 60 metric tones out of 600 metric tones of maize from the FRA. Meanwhile, ZANIS reports that superior milling in Mongu has closed down its depot due to lack of maize. ZNBC News
My brother works for a very big farm on the copperbelt and tells me that is Half of what Antelope Milling spends on maize purchases only.
Let farmers export to earn some forex
I told you guys recently, that there is plenty of farm produce/maize in Zambia, more going to waste/rot, every year. These leaders rule the country “kwati ba lebuta”.
If you have visited rural Zambia, you know its a blue lie for Zambia to run out of Maize. Besides, ZNS alone are capable of producing enough food for Zambia and to export, but MMD/GRZ killed ZNS productivity.
The problems of Zambia are poor policies. People like Teta, with good connection to rural and grassroots general populance of NW province, know very well Zambia has lots of food, but government has no capacity to collect it from farmers, and lack ingenuity to plan for any farming season.
You know, its supprizing to hear Zambia even has an agricultural minister. The same way I get supprized to hear there is also a minister of tourism. If I were president, I would shat down such under-performing ministries, and incorporater them into other ministries.
Honestly, how much is Zambia manking from tourism, when there are no credible airlines, linking Zambia to important world markets. How do you compete economically to export national produce without links to international markets? How will foreign tourists connect to Zambia? Look at our 5 star hotels- Can a local tourist afford a family holiday in those hotels, which are not even conviniently located?
show us the money :)):)):)):)):)):)):))
ONLY!!!!!! WHAT A BUNCH OF JOKERS.
You should be very ashamed…2 billion what? This is absolutely nonsense. Why even consider exporting maize when your own back yard is full of hungry people i.e shortages, prices souring etc. Y’all joke!!!:-w
But mat..le aba sure how can they surely be boasting about all those profits when the situation on the ground is so bad.We have almost no stable availability of the staple food and they are giving us this figures,nonsense.
Boasting na njala.
Now next step::: Alleviate poverty!