Sat, 24 Jun 2017 12:19:50 +0000
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE revisiting of the 10 percent export tax on maize and unlocking of the Congo market to export of maize grain as opposed to mealie meal will enhance the opportunity for Zambian maize exports, says the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU).
ZNFU president, Jervis Zimba, said the union welcomed Government’s decision through Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya and Minister of Finance Felix Mutati to scrap the 10 percent export tax on maize and for opening up exports of maize grain into the Congo DR following outcry of farmers countrywide.
Mr Zimba said in a statement that ZNFU also welcomed the efforts Government was making to help farmers tap into the East African market, Kenya and Tanzania in particular, which was experiencing serious shortages of grain.
“The decision to undertake a trade mission to East Africa by Government will surely be launch pad for the export of our grain by farmers.
“We feel that it is not too late to also involve the private sector during such missions, as they can contribute positively in these trade negotiations by striking deals so that our maize moves quickly,” he said.
Mr Zimba said this development would make it known that Zambia was open for trade in maize while promoting the crop to have competitive price on the regional market.
He also said Government still needed to find alternative markets for the 1.4 million excess crop.
Mr Zimba, however, called on Government to avoid policy swings and stick to these policy pronouncements.
He explained that that would make the sector predictable and allow farmers to plan and make sound investment decisions as Government seeks to encourage the expansion of maize production for trade beyond Zambian borders.
“It is also our hope that while these positive developments are taking place in the agriculture sector, procedures for exports will also be streamlined to ease the exports.
“Farmers are in a hurry to establish this country as the food basket of the region, and this can only be achieved by easing up on red tape involved when facilitating agro-product exports,” Mr Zimba said.
