Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
ZNFU HQ
The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has disclosed that it has had consultations with government on the 2015/16 maize marketing arrangements in Zambia.
The major concern raised by the Union is that the price of K75 per 50KG bag of maize is sub-economic and unattractive given that prices of D-compound and urea fertilizers rose by 78% and 55% respectively during the 2015/16 agricultural season.
According to the ZNFU Weekend Brief made available to QFM News, seed prices rose by over 49% with some farmers in some cases paying over K1, 000 for a 25Kg bag of maize seed.
The statement says interest rates also rose to an average of 30% while the massive depreciation of the kwacha generally raised the costs of all other imported inputs such as agro-chemicals.
The union has advised farmers to sell maize to buyers that are offering cost reflective prices.
The union says according to its market intelligence and calculations, the cost reflective price is above the FRA offer price of K75 per 50KG bag with some traders buying at K125 per bag.