SAVE THE MAIZE
IT is sad that thousands of bags of maize are going to waste because of lack of empty grain bags and in some cases because the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) cannot buy the maize.
This is indeed sad for the farmers who have toiled to produce the same maize which nobody wants to buy. Government was prepared to buy 500, 000 metric tonnes of maize only and this is the instruction on which the FRA has been acting.
Now it turns out that our farmers have over produced, if we may be allowed to use the term. Ordinarily, this should be a good thing because it means that as a country we can feed ourselves and still have more for export.
However, what is sad and heart breaking is to hear of maize being soaked when it should be in the FRA sheds by now.
Yesterday, Kasama Central Member of Parliament, Sibongile Mwamba told the House about farmers faced with ruin because of the maize being soaked.
Like Ms Mwamba pointed out, who bears the cost of such a loss?
From the answer given by the minister of Agriculture Mr Mutolo Phiri, it appears the burden will be on the farmers.
This is unfortunate and hardly the way to reward farmers who have done only what was expected of them.
Instead of celebrating this bumper harvest, the farmers are grappling with where to pack the grain and who to sell it.
Is it any wonder that in Chipangali, briefcase buyers have taken advantage of the situation to mop up the maize in the area, much to the disappointment of Chief Chanje.
The chief has complained that failure to provide farmers with empty grain bags will lead to loss of the crop while those with bags of maize are literally selling at giveaway prices of K100 per 50kg bag against the set price of K150.
Most farmers are faced with either selling at this low price or losing out altogether and having no means of acquiring inputs for the farming season which starts in a few weeks.
On a positive note, Parliament heard yesterday that the FRA has been permitted by the new dawn government of President Hakainde Hichilema to buy more than the 500, 000 metric tonnes set by the PF government.
The FRA has also been allowed to export 450, 000 metric tons of maize to the regional market.
Grain traders have also been given the greenlight to export a further 450, 000 metric tonnes of white maize to help offload the maize in farmers’ custody.
This came to light in Parliament yesterday during the questions for oral answers session.
Responding to a question by Kanchibiya MP Sunday Chanda who wanted to know when FRA will pay farmers, Agriculture Minister Mutolo Phiri said he could not state when the farmers will be paid their money because the maize being bought was beyond the 500, 000 metric tonnes was beyond the budget.
He said due to the overwhelming response from the farmers because of the bumper harvest, the new government decided to allow FRA to buy a further 300, 000 metric tonnes and now will allow the agency to buy more.
So far this has resulted in an additional 300, 000 purchase of bags and more still to be bought. Hopefully this will ensure that the country’s food reserves are secured.
However, what would be even more heartwarming was to ensure that farmers are rewarded for their hard work by buying all their maize.
SAVE THE MAIZE
