Tue, 22 Aug 2017 11:02:56 +0000 Maize may intrude into the 2021 elections unless measures are taken now to pacify the situation. Farmers across the country are angry. Very angry. The decision by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to peg the price of a 50kg bag at K60 was at best arbitrary but at worst unilateral and without the full support of the National Farmers Union (ZNFU) which estimated that it costs up to K81 to produce one 50 Kg bag of maize. It is certainly not correct that FRA, a Government agency should arbitrary set a floor price that is below production cost, on the premise that Government must balance its budget or indeed meet financial benchmarks. In a liberalized economy the market should have been allowed to find a price. Setting a low price sets the trend and disadvantages any attempt at equitable negotiations, especially for the small farmer. This conduct raises two […]
