Sat, 28 Oct 2017 13:20:32 +0000
By MAILESI BANDA
THE viability of farming in Zambia is at stake because of the shrinking markets hence the need for measures to sustain the agriculture sector with the shrinking markets situation, Zambia National Farmers Union, (ZNFU), and President Jervis Zimba has advised.
Mr Zimba said they had been flooded by reports of despair and despondency from farmers because they experienced serious marketing challenges.
Speaking during the 12th anniversary of the ZNFU annual congress in Lusaka on Thursday, Mr Zimba said in farming, marketing was key because markets drive expansion in production.
“The annoying question that farmers are grappling with is how we will sustain agriculture production against shrinking markets as profitability prospects of farming is dwindling,” he said.
Mr. Zimba lamented that aside from maize price challenges other commodities continue to experience unfair competition because of an influx of imports even though these commodities can be produced locally and contribute towards job creation.
Mr. Zimba noted that the influx of imported edible oils is reducing the demand for locally produced oil seeds such as soya beans and edible oil processing hence farmers cannot expand production.
He advised Government to handle challenges that lead to agricultural commodities being dumped on the Zambian market to be cheaper. This led to unfair trade which requires immediate remedy measures from the policymakers.
“The government needs to get to the bottom of influx of agriculture commodities and find out why these products are cheaper than our local products because dumping is unfair trade which requires immediate remedial measures,” Mr. Zimba said.
He stated that it was vital that Government heeds to advice from processes of consultations with key stakeholders and implement the decisions in a timely manner.
