MEALIE MEAL PRICE WAR

Sat, 24 Feb 2018 09:02:28 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

THE maize price war has continued with a traditional ruler urging millers to mop up maize stocks from farmers instead of rushing to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to release strategic reserves.

The traditional leader has backed FRA chief executive, Chola Kafwabulula’s assertions that there is enough maize on the market and especially with farmers from whom the millers should get their stocks. Chief Chikwanda of Mpika told the Daily Nation in an interview that there was no need for mealie meal prices to shoot up because the country had adequate stocks of maize with the farmers which millers could access.

Farmers should release maize to the millers because government maize held by the FRA is for emergency purposes, Chief Chikwanda said.

Chief Chikwanda said that it was unrealistic for millers to insist that Government should release maize from FRA if traders continue “hiding” maize from the open market.

The traditional leader charged that the millers should convince farmers and traders still holding on to the maize to release the commodity.

He explained that the maize under the FRA was for emergency purposes and that government should stick to its plan by which the commodity would be offloaded.

Chief Chikwanda called on the farmers to release maize to the millers, adding that government should not bow down to pressure because what lay ahead was not known.

Meanwhile, Chief Chikwanda advised Government to open up its own milling plants maintain stable mealie meal prices.