Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Jesuit Center for the Theological Reflection (JCTR) doubts the K70.00 maize floor price announced by the Food Reserve Agency will benefit small scale farmers in the country.
The JCTR says the fact that the floor price for maize has been maintained at last year’s price of K70.00 for a 50 Kg bag means government has not taken into consideration the concerns of the farmers.
JCTR Executive Director Leonard Chiti recalls that when the 2014 floor price for maize was announced, farmers had raised concerns such as the need for government to consider setting the floor price as close as possible to the economic price it takes to produce a 50Kg bag of maize by a farmer.
Leonard Chiti
Father Chiti has told Qfm News by telephone that with the floor price remaining the same, government has clearly shown that it did not listen to the concerns farmers raised.
He says his advice therefore is for the small scale farmers to consider venturing into other viable crops that will enable them realize income.
Father Chiti states that this is considering that maize has now become a political crop in the country seeing that government is always keeping the floor price lower with the view of ensuring that the price of mealie meal remains as low as possible.
He says small scale farmers should therefore consider venturing into other crops where possible where there is no government control when it comes to determining the price.