Agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has urged government to consider granting farmers export permits to sell maize across borders, following the abolition of the policy that required beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to sale at least 10 bags of maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Dr. Bulaya noted that while millers and other private sector players are already exporting maize, it is equally important for farmers to be given access to international markets to secure better prices and improve their profits.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, Dr. Bulaya warned that without sufficient storage systems, farmers risk post-harvest losses if they are unable to sell their produce on time.
“Looking at the challenges of climate change, some of these grains might experience post-harvest losses, which is bad for the country,” Dr. Bulaya said.
He further appealed to the private sector to offer cost-reflective prices to farmers in light of the policy shift.
At the same time, Dr. Bulaya called on government, through the FRA, to expand storage facilities in order to accommodate more maize for future use, particularly in times of drought.
By Christabel Kamunu
