Wed, 31 May 2017 13:13:31 +0000 Value addition in agriculture can profit farmers Dear Editor, Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya’s disclosure that the government would not remove 10% charge on the maize exports as requested by the commercial farmers and grain traders in order to encourage the exportation of mealie meal and create jobs for the millers was the breath of fresh air needed to blow away the stench brought about by the war-of-words between the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) and the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ). While MAZ chairperson Andrew Chintala confirmed that Zambia had the capacity to feed the Southern African region and beyond with the mealie meal produced from local milling companies. In sharp contrast, GTAZ executive director Chambuleni Simmwinga disputed MAZ’s assertions claiming that millers in Zambia had limited milling capacity and could not afford to produce mealie meal for export. He further echoed Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU)’s […]
