CTPD appeals to govt to lift ban on maize exports

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development ( Isabel Mukelabai  has appealed to the government to lift the export ban on maize in view of the anticipated maize surplus the country is expected to record.

CTPD Executive Director Isabel Mukelabai says her organisation is concerned that government has maintained export ban on maize when statistics indicate that the country will record a maize surplus.

Isabel Mukelabai

Ms Mukelabai says government should allow farmers to export their produce to neighboring countries.

She states that government should put in place a proper plan in terms of facilitating maize exports in a predictable manner.

Ms Mukelabai says in as much as her organization agrees with government on the need to ensure the country is food secure, statistics for the last seven years show that Zambia has been recording a surplus of maize, wondering why this should not be exported.

She tells QFM News via telephone that Zambia is the only country in the region expected to record a bumper harvest, and that with the current maize stocks in the reserves, it would not be a bad idea to export some to neighboring countries.

Ms Mukelabai has since appealed to government to formulate a policy that will see the promotion of maize trade between Zambia and other countries.