‘Maize floor prices fair’

NOEL IYOMBWA writes THE K110 maize floor price is fair to farmers who benefited from Farmer Input Support Programme, the National Union for Small Scale Farmers in Zambia (NUSSFAZ) has said. NUSSFAZ acting executive director, Noel Simukonde, said the floor price was fair, particularly for farmers under the FISP. Commenting on the recently announced maize floor price, Mr Simukonde said that farmers under FISP would benefit compared to farmers who bought fertilizer at much higher price. He urged Government to allow the export of the commodity to neighbouring countries in order for other farmers to also make some profit. “The price is fair to small scale farmers who were supported through FISP at least they will make some profit but for farmers who bought fertilizer at over K 300 the story is different. “As NUSSFAZ we can only urge the Government to open borders so that farmers can sell the maize to other countries like the DRC where the price is higher. Mr Simukonde also urged grain traders and millers to offer better prices compared to the announced price. The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) recently announced it will in this year’s crop marketing season pay K110 for a 50kg bag of white maize. The FRA has also fixed the price of a 50kg bag of soya beans at K150 and paddy rice at K70 for a 40kg bag. FRA Executive Director Chola Kafwabulula said that his organisation would this year buy one million tonnes of maize as announced by President Edgar Lungu recently. Mr Kafwabulula said the private sector was expected to purchase the remainder of the over three million tonnes of maize. Zambia’s agriculture sector is this year expected to produce over three million tonnes of maize as announced by Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo. The Sun