Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) Government to announce maize floor price next month

Government to announce maize floor price next month.
Friday, April 17, 2009

Government will early next month announce the floor price of maize for this year. Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Brian Chituwo said government has been under pressure from the public hence the need to announce the floor price of maize as soon as possible.

Dr. Chituwo said this when he opened a joint crop production exercise data collection workshop which is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative (MACO), Central Statistics Office (CSO) and Food Security Research Project (FSRP) in Lusaka yesterday.

He advised members of the public not to panic but wait for a little while for the floor price of the staple food to be announced.

He indicated that government does not want to rush in announcing the floor price of maize because it would want to come up with a price that would make people happy.

Dr. Chituwo explained that has to make consultations before announcing the floor price of maize in the country.

The minister also pointed out that it was not only Zambians who want to know what the floor price of maize would be but the whole Southern African region because it would want to buy the commodity.

He said people need to understand that government has been doing its best in trying to have the floor price of maize announced in the country.

Dr. Chituwo however commended MACO, CSO and the FSRP for doing a commendable job of conducting crop production exercise of data collection in the country.

He said the crop production data collection exercise was very important.

He also emphasized the need for farmers in the country to grow more of other crops such as cassava, rice and Irish potatoes.

Meanwhile, CSO Director Elfridah Chulu said at the same function that the crop production exercise data collection was very important.

She said CSO would provide government and the public with all information once the crop production exercise data collection on crop production.

Of late, there has been pressure from some sectors of society pushing government to announce the flow price of maize in the country.

ZANIS/AJN/KSH/ENDS

Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, FARM SUBSIDIES, MAIZE

posted by MrK @ 2:42 PM