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ZNFU blames poor wheat marketing on decision to allow importation

ZNFU blames poor wheat marketing on decision to allow importation
Written by Fridah Zinyama
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 4:25:35 AM

THE Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) yesterday said the government’s decision to allow wheat imports last year has led to commercial farmers being stuck with 80,000 metric tonnes of the commodity. And local grain traders are seeking export markets for their 90,000 metric tonnes of non-genetically modified maize.

In an interview, ZNFU president Jervis Zimba said the government allowed imports into the country last year in September just when farmers had started offloading their produce on the local market.

“It has never happened before that government allows wheat imports into the country just when farmers are about to start their crop marketing season,” he said.
Zimba said the government’s decision therefore led to millers purchasing foreign wheat at the expense of the local crop.

“Farmers last year produced about 190, 000 metric tonnes of wheat of which 80,000 metric tonnes is stuck with farmers in Mkushi because of lack of market here in Zambia,” he said.

Zimba said the government had in the past only allowed wheat imports when there was a shortfall.

“Government’s decision to continue allowing imports of wheat into the country will destroy the whole industry which has been striving to produce enough wheat to feed the whole country throughout the year without any imports,” Zimba said.

And local grain traders are considering exporting the 90,000 metric tonnes of maize they are holding because millers have refused to buy their stock.

“The local market has about 100,000 metric tonnes of maize which is being held by grain traders (90,000 metric tonnes) and farmers (10,000),” Zimba said.

He explained that there was need for the government to quickly resolve the issues surrounding the maize industry before the situation got out of hand.

Many stakeholders have questioned why the government had gone ahead to import maize into the country when the local market is believed to have enough maize to last until the next crop marketing season.

Zimba further added that farmers would in the next one month release about 100,000 metric tonnes of the early maturing maize on the market, therefore increasing the local stocks with the Food Reserve Agency to about 200,000 metric tones.

“Something should be urgently done to resolve problems in the maize sector, as it is the country’s staple food,” said Zimba.

Labels: JERVIS ZIMBA, WHEAT, ZNFU

posted by MrK @ 4:25 AM