The Zambia National Farmers’ Union ZNFU has expressed disappointment that the Food Reserve Agency FRA will in this years crop marketing season NOT purchase soya beans.
ZNFU President Jervis Zimba says this has come at a time when when farmers in far flung areas have embraced crop diversification and invested so much in soya beans.
Mr. Zimba Said that this year’s crop forecast for soya Beans are signaling to a bumper harvest in the commodity.
He has therefore called on government and FRA to a consultative meeting on the soyabeans value chain to map the way forward.
Meanwhile, the Small Scale Farmers Development Agency SAFADA has welcomed the announcement by FRA to purchase a k50 bag of maize at K280.
SAFADA Executive Director Boyd Moobwe said this move will encourage farmers to grow their commodities in abundance that will translate into food security in the country.
Speaking in an interview with Christian voice News today, Mr. Moobwe has however expressed concern that the new buying price may trigger an upward adjustment in mealie meal prices.
He said that milers will approximately purchase a 50kg bag of white maize at K300 adding that milers will be tempted to increase mealie meal prices in order to make substantial profit.
