May 25, 2015 - Notes From the ZNFU Weekly Update

Highlights from the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) - Friday Brief #21

ZSIC CARRIES OUT CROP FAILURE ASSESSMENT

A combined team of staff from Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) and the ZNFU Western Region staff have this week been visiting farmers under the Lima Credit Scheme to assess the extent of the crop failure owing to the drought which hit most parts of the country in March this year. The team visited Itezhi Tezhi, Nkeyema and Kaoma districts.  In Kaoma alone, more than 100 farmers with over 200 hectares have been affected.

LIVINGSTONE IN COWPEAS SHORTAGE 

Livingstone district has been experiencing a shortage of Cowpeas supply in the last few months. Cowpeas have become rare commodity in the district. This has been attributed to the rise in the price of the commodity as well as its scarcity due to low production. Cowpeas is highly sought after by traders from Botswana but they are finding it difficult to access it due to the high price and scarcity. Some traders from Botswana visited both the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and ZNFU to inquire on where they could find the commodity at a reasonable buying price. The traders were willing to buy the commodity at K3/kg but the commodity is commonly available at K5/kg, and in some areas farmers are offering the commodity at K7/kg to k11/kg. 

DC URGES FARMERS TO MECHANIZE

The acting District Commissioner (DC) for Lundazi Mr. Manda has advised farmers in the district to adopt mechanization in their farming business in order to increase on production and consequently yields. This came to light during a CFU/MUSIKA organized mechanization roadshow held in the district at Msuzi Basic School. The smallholder farm mechanization roadshows accords an opportunity for farmers to learn about different farming equipment that can be used by the farmers. It’s also a platform that explains how farmers can acquire the equipment under different farmer asset financing schemes like the Bunjimi Asset Plus being implemented by the ZNFU.

The roadshow attracted over 700 farmers for various parts of the district with exhibitions from ZNFU, KEEGY, SARO, AFGRI, NWK, MRI, PANNAR, PIONEER, ZAMSEED, AND Klein Karoo.

FARMERS ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAIZE FLOOR PRICE

Farmers in Mbala district are anxiously waiting for the government to announce the Maize floor price for the 2015 marketing season. The farmers are eager to know the floor price which they say will allow them budget properly for the next farming season as well as household expenses.