GIDEON NYENDWA
THE recent drop in mealie-meal prices across the country is a resultant effect of the declining maize prices on the market, the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) has said.
MAZ president Andrew Chintala has disclosed that maize from the current harvest has started reaching the market, enabling millers to access and blend it with existing stocks to support production.
“This has led to a notable reduction in the cost of mealie-meal, with some major brands slashing prices by over K120, and others by K60 to K70, depending on their sourcing strategies.
This price drop is purely market-driven, the reduction you are seeing is due to the availability of maize, which has pushed prices down”
Mr Chintala said despite concerns about the moisture content of the newly harvested maize, millers have continued to use it in production, and helping to stabilise supply chains and market’s immediate reaction to the influx of maize has resulted in a significant decline in mealie-meal prices.
He said looking ahead, the sustainability of the price reduction would depend on the final crop forecast survey and the national food balance sheet, which was yet to be released.
Mr Chintala however said early indicators point to a good harvest, raising hopes for continued price stability.
“If the crop performs as expected, we can anticipate a period of stable mealie-meal prices,” Mr Chintala said.
“But a more accurate forecast will come after the release of the food balance sheet, which will give us a clearer picture for the next six to nine months.”
