The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) extends its heartfelt commendations to the Government of the Republic of Zambia for its consistent efforts to encourage farmers to grow maize, the staple crop and safeguard national and regional food security.
Farmers have seen migration to cost reflective pricing to incentivize production. Well! The policy intervention in maize pricing over the past three seasons are bearing fruits. The producer prices which moved on an upward trajectory, have served as a critical incentive for farmers across the country to invest in grain cultivation and increase production. Had it not been for the drought experienced in the 2023/2024 farming season, the country could have recorded a bumper harvest which would have been a clear reflection of the strong response by farmers to favourable price signals.
NOW that we are at the start of the marketing season, the Union would like to issue a reminder of the importance of sustaining favourable farmgate prices. Doing so is not only critical for encouraging continued investment in grain production, but also for ensuring national food security. In recent years, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has relied on emergent farmers as well as smallholder farmers to replenish the strategic grain reserves bearing in mind for the latter suppliers, a bulk of their crop is reserved for home consumption and this situation is even more pronounced this year as most families have zero stocks. The source of maize for FRA underscores the need to maintain producer prices that are attractive and economically viable for producers.
We therefore fervently appeal to Government to ensure that the policy environment is conducive for the sustenance of producer prices which will propel growing of maize next season and beyond so that we get away from cyclical production patterns. Therefore, a pricing model that fails to recognise cost of production and profitability risks discouraging production and this will frustrate government efforts to achieving the maize production targets set for the country.
Reports reaching the Union show that farmers are being offered paltry prices. Such a development, if left unchecked, will disrupt the motivation to produce maize. Our plea to Government is that rapid action to facilitate regulated grain exports is necessary immediately while the niche market is available as this will go a long way to help stabilise local market prices. Export channels—if opened in a regulated and transparent manner—can serve as a pressure valve to prevent local price collapse while simultaneously opening markets for surplus grain, thereby guaranteeing production continuity for the 2025/2026 season. For this purpose, the country should embrace regulated export of commercial grain (from uncommitted early maize or dryland) and the value-added products.
Furthermore, we call upon the Food Reserve Agency to announce the FRA floor price immediately and to ensure that the price is cost reflective and viable. As for our farmers, our appeal is that do not rush to all sell at once but look out to lock in an appropriate price to enable you continue farming.
The Union has engaged Government to share these concerns to ensure that the agricultural sector remains resilient, market-driven, and responsive to both national and regional food security needs.
Source: Zambia National Farmers’ Union
