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. 

19 May, 2015 - Maize Production along Zambia's Line-of-Rail

Excerpted from Zambia National Farmers' Union (ZNFU) Weekly Agro-Watch (18th May 2015, Vol. 19)

Marketable Maize along Line of rail to fall by 43 percent

The Crop forecast results released last week by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reveal that the quantity of marketable maize along the line of rail, the hub of private sector participation in maize marketing, is anticipated to reduce by 43 percent in the 2015/16 marketing year to 580,072 metric tons. The maize production areas along the line of rail were the worst hit by the weather shocks that characterized the 2014/15 agricultural season and are likely to suffer higher production losses.  The off line of rail marketable surplus has however been forecast up by about 2 percent to 877,409 tons. This is mainly on account of increased maize production by the northern region of the country. The quantities of maize to reach the market in Eastern and North-Western Provinces are however forecast to drop by 24 and 35 percent respectively in comparison to the previous marketing season.

Zambezi Water Levels:

• On the local scene, information from the Zambezi River Authority indicates that the flowrate of the Zambezi River is about 50 percent lower than last year about the same time. The lower flow rate may not only affect the availability of water for irrigation but also electricity generation, two inputs critical in Zambia’s wheat production. 

Maize:

• Following the announcement of the 2014/15 crop forecast results, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock – Hon. Given Lubinda stated that Zambia’s borders would remain open to maize exports as long as national food security was not threatened.
• Meanwhile, indications are that Zimbabwe is in search of about 700,000 tons of maize to meet its anticipated maize supply deficit.
• Results from Malawi’s second round survey revealed that they country may require to import about 123,000MT of maize in order to meet its looming maize deficit in the 2015/16 marketing year. This will however be confirmed by its third round survey to estimate the 2015 harvest.
• The Chicago maize futures price for delivery in July 2015 was pegged at US$ 145.27/MT on 18^th May 2015.
• Local maize offer prices averaged ZMW1165/ton in the week ending 15^th May 2015. Lusaka prices are however around ZMW1, 320/ton. The maize market players are now anxiously waiting for the announcement of the FRA purchase price.

Fuel:

• On the local scene, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has adjusted fuel prices by ZMW1/litre on average with the new prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene pegged at ZMW8.74/L, ZMW 7.59/L and ZMW 5.40/L respectively. ERB has attributed this increase to the poor performance of the Kwacha. With the rising international crude oil prices, further increments in local fuel prices cannot be ruled out.

May 18, 2015 - Ministerial Statement on Crop Forecast (14th May, 2015)

(Note: Copied verbatim from Ministerial Statement received 18th May 2015)

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK

HON. GIVEN LUBINDA, MP

ON

THE CROP FORECASTING SURVEY FOR THE 2014/2015 AGRICULTURAL SEASON AND THE FOOD BALANCE STATUS FOR THE 2015/2016 MARKETING SEASON

14^th   May, 2015

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE TO THE NATION THE COUNTRY’S ESTIMATED CROP PRODUCTION FOR THE 2014/2015 AGRICULTURAL SEASON AS WELL AS THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL FOOD BALANCE FOR THE MARKETING SEASON COVERING THE PERIOD FROM   1ST MAY 2015 TO 30TH APRIL 2016.

THE CROP PRODUCTION ESTIMATES THAT I AM RELEASING TODAY ARE BASED ON A UNIVERSALLY APPLIED SCIENTIFIC SURVEY METHOD THAT IS USED EVERY YEAR. THE SURVEY IS JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK AND THE CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE (CSO) AND COVERS ALL THE DISTRICTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS YEAR, MAIZE PRODUCTION IS FORECAST TO DECLINE TO 2,618,221 METRIC TONNES FROM 3,350,671   METRIC TONNES, A DECLINE OF 21.86 PERCENT. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE YIELD RATE FOR MAIZE HAS DROPPED FROM 2.36 METRIC TONNES PER HECTARE TO 1.75 METRIC TONNES PER HECTARE. THIS REPRESENTS A DECLINE OF 26 PERCENT. SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE FARMERS HAVE RECORDED AN AVERAGE MAIZE YIELD RATE OF 1.68 METRIC TONNES PER HECTARE, WHILST LARGE SCALE FARMERS HAVE RECORDED AN AVERAGE MAIZE YIELD RATE OF 4.36 METRIC TONNES PER HECTARE.

DESPITE THE DECREASE IN MAIZE PRODUCTION, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE AREA PLANTED TO MAIZE AND MOST OTHER CROPS HAS INCREASED COMPARED TO LAST SEASON. AREA UNDER MAIZE INCREASED BY 5.3 PERCENT TO 1,494,451 IN THE 2014/2015 SEASON FROM 1,419,326 HECTARES LAST SEASON. USAGE OF FERTILIZER ON MAIZE BY FARMERS INCREASED BY 12 PERCENT IN 2014/2015 COMPARED TO LAST SEASON. THE USE OF FERTILIZER AND HYBRID SEED INCREASED DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE QUANTITY OF FERTILIZER AND SEED DISTRIBUTED BY GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE FISP AS WELL AS THE CONTINUING EXTENSION EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CROP PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

PRODUCTION OF SORGHUM AND MILLET IS FORECAST TO DECLINE BY 29.7 PERCENT TO 8,123 METRIC TONNES FROM 11,557 METRIC TONNE LAST SEASON.  

PRODUCTION OF MILLET IS FORECAST TO INCREASE BY 4.8 PERCENT TO           31,967 METRIC TONNES FROM 30,504 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON.

PRODUCTION OF RICE IS FORECAST TO DECLINE BY 48.6 PERCENT TO           25,514 METRIC TONNES FROM 49,640 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON.

PRODUCTION OF GROUNDNUTS IS FORECAST TO DECLINE BY 22.4 PERCENT TO 111,429 METRIC TONNES FROM 143,591 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON.

PRODUCTION OF SOYA BEANS IS FORECAST TO INCREASE BY 5.7 PERCENT TO 226,323 METRIC TONNES FROM 214,179 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON. THE NATIONAL YIELD RATE FOR SOYA BEANS HAS DECLINED BY 5 PERCENT. HOWEVER, THE AREA PLANTED TO SOYA BEANS INCREASED BY 11.2 PERCENT. THIS INCREASE IN THE AREA PLANTED TO SOYA BEANS UNDERSCORES MY MINISTRY’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ZAMBIA’S OILSEED PROCESSING SECTOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE OUR FARMERS TO CONTINUE INCREASING THE HECTARAGE UNDER OIL SEED CROPS SUCH AS SOYA BEANS AND SUNFLOWER TO ENABLE ZAMBIA BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT IN COOKING OIL.

PRODUCTION OF SEED COTTON IS FORECAST TO DECLINE BY 13.7 PERCENT TO 103,889 METRIC TONNES FROM 120,314 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON. HOWEVER, AREA PLANTED TO SEED COTTON DID INCREASE BY 18.4 PERCENT TO 158,619 HECTARES COMPARED TO LAST SEASON.

PRODUCTION OF SWEET POTATOES IS FORECAST TO DECLINE BY 21.2 PERCENT TO 118,330 METRIC TONNES FROM 150,158 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON.

PRODUCTION OF IRISH POTATOES IS FORECAST TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY BY 35.7 PERCENT TO 45,902 METRIC TONNES FROM       33,833 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON. THE INCREASE IN THE PRODUCTION OF IRISH POTATOES IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE LARGE SCALE FARMING SECTOR. I WISH TO ENCOURAGE OUR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS TO ALSO INCREASE THEIR EFFORTS AT CROP DIVERSIFICATION.

PRODUCTION OF MIXED BEANS IS FORECAST TO DECLINE BY 18.4 PERCENT TO 50,398 METRIC TONNES FROM 61,749 METRIC TONNES LAST SEASON.

PRODUCTION OF VIRGINIA AND BURLEY TOBACCO IS FORECAST TO DECLINE BY 24.1 PERCENT AND 36.4 PERCENT TO 19,811 METRIC TONNES AND 6,083 METRIC TONNES RESPECTIVELY

ACCORDING TO THE CROP FORECAST SURVEY RESULTS, NATIONAL CASSAVA FLOUR EQUIVALENT PRODUCTION FOR THE 2014/2015 SEASON HAS BEEN FORECAST TO INCREASE BY 3.6 PERCENT TO  952,847 METRIC TONNES COMPARED TO  919,497 METRIC TONNES OF CASSAVA FLOUR EQUIVALENT, PRODUCED DURING THE LAST SEASON.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

YOU WILL NOTE THAT THE YIELD RATES FOR MANY CROPS HAS DECLINED IN THE 2014/2015 SEASON COMPARED TO LAST SEASON. THE GENERAL DECREASE IS MAINLY DUE TO THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:

1. THE LATE ONSET OF RAINS WHICH LED TO LATE PLANTING OF MOST CROPS; AND
2. THE POOR DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL WHICH CHARACTERIZED THE SEASON CULMINATING IN A PROLONGED DRY SPELL DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

THE NATIONAL FOOD BALANCE SHEET FOR THE 2015/2016 MARKETING SEASON BASED ON THE CROP FORECASTING SURVEY  SHOWS THAT THE COUNTRY HAS PRODUCED SUFFICIENT MAIZE FOR BOTH HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND INDUSTRIAL USE. AS ALREADY STATED, TOTAL MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE 2014/2015 SEASON HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE 2,618,221 METRIC TONNES. THE COUNTRY ALSO HAS A MAIZE CARRY-OVER STOCK AMOUNTING TO 1,345,401 METRIC TONNES. MOST OF THIS MAIZE IS UNDER SAFE STORAGE WITH THE FRA, PRIVATE TRADERS AND COMMERCIAL FARMERS. WHEN THE MAIZE CARRY-OVER STOCK FROM LAST SEASON IS ADDED TO THE MAIZE PRODUCTION FOR THE 2014/2015 AGRICULTURAL SEASON, THE TOTAL SUPPLY OF MAIZE AVAILABLE FOR THE 2015/2016 MARKETING SEASON IS 3,963,622 METRIC TONNES.

FOR AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 15.7 MILLION PEOPLE, THE FOOD BALANCE SHEET SHOWS THAT TOTAL MAIZE REQUIRED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, INDUSTRIAL USE AND OTHER COMMITMENTS AMOUNTS TO 3,086,854 METRIC TONNES. THE TOTAL MAIZE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE AN ANTICIPATED NATIONAL STRATEGIC RESERVE STOCK OF 500,000 METRIC TONNES TO BE HELD BY THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY.

WHEN TOTAL MAIZE REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBTRACTED FROM TOTAL MAIZE AVAILABILITY, THE FOOD BALANCE SHEET INDICATES THAT THE COUNTRY HAS RECORDED A MAIZE SURPLUS OF 876,738 METRIC TONNES.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

THE WHEAT CROP FOR THE 2014/2015 SEASON IS CURRENTLY BEING PLANTED. HOWEVER, PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT THE COUNTRY IS LIKELY TO INCREASE ITS WHEAT PRODUCTION THIS SEASON COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. DETAILED ESTIMATES FOR THE ANTICIPATED WHEAT PRODUCTION WILL BE UPDATED LATER IN THE SEASON.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

I WISH TO INFORM THE NATION THAT GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY (FRA), WILL PURCHASE 500,000 METRIC TONNES OF STRATEGIC RESERVES.

LET ME HOWEVER, ENCOURAGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CONTINUE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN CROP MARKETING BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. MY MINISTRY WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE EXPORT PERMITS TO VARIOUS PRIVATE SECTOR PLAYERS TO EXPORT OUR SURPLUS GRAIN TO REGIONAL MARKETS. THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT COMPROMISING NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY. LET ME EMPHASISE THE FACT THAT GOVERNMENT IS KEEN TO SEE MORE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PURCHASING OF GRAIN FROM OUR HARD WORKING FARMERS.

THE FRA WILL IN DUE COURSE, ANNOUNCE THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR MAIZE FOR THE 2015/2016 MARKETING SEASON. THE FRA WILL ONLY COMMENCE MAIZE PURCHASES ONCE THE MOISTURE CONTENT HAS REACHED DESIRED LOW LEVELS. LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM THE NATION THAT I WILL SOON BE CONVENING A MEETING WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WAY FORWARD ON CROP MARKETING FOR THIS SEASON.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

LET ME CONCLUDE BY ONCE AGAIN THANKING THE FARMERS OF ZAMBIA FOR THEIR CONTINUED HARD.

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL SUMMARY OF THE CROP FORECAST SURVEY RESULTS FOR THE 2014/2015 AGRICULTURAL SEASON. DETAILED RESULTS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS AND EARLY WARNING SECTION OF MY MINISTRY AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. 

May 18, 2015 - Zambia Has Enough Maize

(from the ZNFU weekly update)

ZAMBIA HAS ENOUGH MAIZE DESPITE LOW YIELDS

According to the Crop Forecast Results released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock yesterday, Zambia’s 2014/15 maize production dropped by 21.86 to 2.6 million tons. Despite an increase in the area planted, the national average yield dropped from 2.36 tons per hectare to 1.75tons poor hectare. The yield reductions have been attributed to the poor weather experienced during the seasons.  The country is however expected to have a surplus of around 877,000 MT due to a large carry over stock from the previous season.

During his announcement of the crop forecast results, the Minister of agriculture and Livestock- Honourable Given Lubinda, stated that the Food Reserve Agency would only purchase 500,000MT of maize at a price to be announced later. He further encouraged private sector participation in the 2015/16 marketing season and indicated that the borders would remain open for maize exports as long as national food security is not compromise.

Meanwhile the national Soya beans productions has been forecast up by 5.7 percent to 226,323 MT as the increase in area planted is expected to outweigh the yield reductions. Cotton production has been pegged at 103,889MT. The crop forecast results generally reveal that most crops suffered yield losses. There was however notable increase in the plantings of Irish potatoes especially by the large scale farmer.  

TRADITIONAL LEADER STRATEGIZES FOR INCREASED AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION 

Senior Chief Nkula of the Bemba speaking people of Chinsali has come up with strategies to scale up agriculture in his Chiefdom because the majority of his subjects never take agriculture seriously, resulting into high poverty levels. The traditional leader has put up some strategies which include:

• Setting up of a village committee which will be responsible for giving out traditional land to individual farmers for agricultural purposes, starting from 5 hectares going upwards
• Starting with the 2015/2016 farming season, all subjects will be forced to go to their various farms/fields. A scheduled alarm (bell) will be resounding around 08:00hrs every morning to notify farmers to go to their crop fields and this will be under the serious supervision of chief retainers.

The senior Chief has also encouraged all civil servants in his area to get land so that they become models to others. The people of Nkula Chiefdom have welcomed these strategies because a lot of people are not farming but concentracting on useless vices such as beer drinking. The Chief informed his subjects of his plans during an agricultural camp show held at Nkula camp in his chiefdom this week on Wednesday. 

TOBACCO FARMERS COMPLAIN OF HIGH TRANSPORT CHARGES

Japanese Tobacco International (JTI) and Alliance One have centralised the marketing points of Tobacco.  JTI will conduct Tobacco marketing at their newly built modern facility called Rosewood in Kaoma district while Alliance One will be at their main depot in Nkeyema. Sources have reviewed that the reason for centralising the marketing points was to reduce on possible risks of side marketing and reducing handling costs among others. But Tobacco farmers in Kalumwange and Chitwa Farming Blocs have complained of the cost of transporting Tobacco which will now be tripled. The farmers are worried that the rise in transport costs will negatively affect the profitability of their crop produce. JTI has completely done away with all their satellite depots.

2014-06-24 FRA Floor Price at K70 / 50kg bag

Bleak morning here in Senanga; mid-afternoon yesterday, a low bank of clouds blew in from the east and have remained through the night. Consequently, our early hours are darker and cooler than usual, though the cloudiness this time of year is not unusual. Very rarely (as was the case in 2007 and in 2011) it will rain, and a more miserable site could never be espied; cold and wet is something the locals aren't really keen on.

Friday evening between watching-paint-dry sessions with L. at Country Lodge, they switched the television to the national news (ZNBC). Despite being a pedantic and uninspiring example of state-run media, Zambians will almost uniformly switch over at 19:00 hrs to hear about what Government (like the Brits, no definite article necessary) has done today. Anyway, Friday's news was the long-awaited announcement: the Minister of Agriculture, Wylber Simuusa declared the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) "floor price" has been raised from K65 [first set in 2009] to K70 ($11.49USD).

So far, the news has not been received well by most farmers. They were hoping for a increase in the floor price that would match inflation and the increased cost of living; not surprising, given that when the K65 floor price was set in 2009, it was worth $13.00. Now, the price has dropped in real dollars by $1.50, and that dollar-fifty doesn't go nearly as far.

We'll wait and see, but my gut says the PF government is trying to slowly implement its plans to diversify Zambia's agriculture picture by slowing down the maize juggernaut. Or, they simply can't afford to raise it any higher. Both may be means to the same end.

ZNFU Bulletin, Week 24 - 2014

The Zambia National Farmers' Union (ZNFU) is the former Commercial Farmers Union (CFU, which now means Conservation Farming Unit, yay acronyms). I won't right now discuss the somewhat complex partnership we have with their district offices (our implementing partners in Mongu and Kaoma) or my thoughts on how they work, but they do publish a weekly bulletin that crunches everything into good and quick chunks; one such bulletin is shown below. As usual, I claim no responsibility for the content.

Have a great Monday.
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FRIDAY BRIEF

WEEK 24, 2014

THIS Week’s Highlights

·         FARMERS URGED TO KNOW THEIR WATER USER RIGHTS

·         PIG GENETICS FARM SOON TO OPEN IN ZAMBIA

·         GSI/AFGRI CONDUCT GRAIN SILOS DEMONSTRATION

·         2015 NATIONAL BUDGET SUBMISSIONS TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE

…... SEE DETAILED UPDATES BELOW……

INDUSTRY UPDATES/ALERTS

FARMERS URGED TO KNOW THEIR WATER USER RIGHTS

The Director for Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has reiterated the need for sound legislation and water management structures among all major water users as provided for in the new Water Resources Management Act No. 21 of 2011.  Mr. Kakotwe informed the National Catchment Delineation workshop in Chisamba that his Authority was putting up water management structures at all levels to help calm the growing inter-sectoral water use conflicts among major users, i.e. farmers, mines, manufacturing industry, environment and domestic consumers. WARMA is calling on all water users to organize and recognize themselves into Water Users Associations as provided for by the law in order to claim their water user rights and obligations. The new WARMA Act provides for, among other things, an integrated, interactive, participatory, gender-sensitive; multi-sectoral and stakeholder approach to water resources management aimed at enhancing equitable water use allocation.

PIG GENETICS FARM SOON TO OPEN IN ZAMBIA

A Pig Genetics farm will soon start its operations in Zambia. This came to light when a team of Zambian Industry experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock as well as the Zambia National Farmers’ Union visited a pig genetics farm in South Africa to familiarize themselves with the operations of such an investment. The farm which will be fully automated is expected to cater for the supply of breeding stock to other countries such as; Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. Ground work has already commenced and the farm is expected to be operational in September, 2014. The farm will initially start with a 500 sow unit and is expected to offload more than 200 weaners per week to grower farms.   ZNFU is happy with this development as new Pig Genetic farm will help resolve current problems faced by many pig farmers when sourcing for improved genetics for their breeding stock.

GSI/AFGRI CONDUCT GRAIN SILOS DEMONSTRATION

GSI Zambia Ltd in partnership with AFGRI recently unveiled their new grain storage technology to Mkushi farmers at the AFGRI Bunker. The company showcased different storage facilities which included steel farm bins, commercial storage grain bins, grain silos and a low cost bulk grain storage solution for smallholder and emergent farmers. Speaking to farmers during the function, Mkushi District Commissioner Mr. Luka Mwamba expressed delight at the fact that some of the storage facilities are now tailor made for small scale and emergent farmers a move that will enhance storage and reduce post-harvest loses.

2015 NATIONAL BUDGET SUBMISSIONS TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE

The Ministry of Finance has started receiving tax and non-tax proposals for the 2015 National Budget and the 2015 to 2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework [MTEF]. In this regard the Union is requesting members to submit tax and non-tax proposals across the agricultural value chains to ZNFU Head Office by 15^th July 2014. This will enable the Union have ample time to compile all submissions prior to submitting to the Ministry of Finance on behalf of members.

The format of the proposals to be submitted to Ministry of Finance is as follows:

1. Clearly outline the expected impact in terms of;

·         Proposed measure,

·         Justification; and

·         Expected revenue impact (i.e. gain or loss).

2. All proposals on improvement of tax administration must clearly outline anomalies/challenges in current statutes which are proposed to be corrected and justify expected improved outcomes, especially in revenue collection.

Kindly send all your submissions to: judy.hamonzwe@znfu.org.zm

NEWS FROM THE REGIONS

CENTRAL REGION

MKUSHI DFA TO HOLD ITS 2014 AGM

Mkushi DFA has set 27^th June 2014 as the date for this year’s Annual General Meeting. This year’s date is intentionally set to coincide with the District agricultural show starting the same day so that farmers can interact with exhibitors before the meeting. To facilitate this, the AGM will be held at the Council chamber instead of the usual country club at 14 hour.

I-CONNECT TO EXTEND COVERAGE TO MKUSHI

I-connect one of the internet service providers established in 2005 and who are now a part of the Vodacom group has expressed interest to extend its internet coverage to Mkushi district. During their discussions with the ZNFU Officials, the I-connect officials indicated that they were looking forward to partnering with the Union in their drive to modernize internet connectivity and offer competitive services to the farming community. Meanwhile, the ZNFU has welcomed the development as it will enhance communication efficiency.

EASTERN B REGION

LEAVE FISP FOR THE VULNERABLE, CHIEF NYAMPANDE ADVISES FARMERS

 Chief Nyampande of Petauke District has warned farmers to stop depending on FISP because the program was meant to help only the vulnerable people. Speaking during the Mechanization Road Show field day organized by CFU on 10^th June 2014, the Chief advised the farmers to join ZNFU if they were to reap the benefit of Agriculture because ZNFU was there for farmers and their service delivery was more efficient. He cited the Lima Credit Scheme as one of the major benefits among other services that farmers can access from the Union. He said that he had confidence in the Union because he has seen how farming has improved in his Chiefdom due to interventions which ZNFU has brought in his area. He however, advised the DACO to quickly address challenges surrounding the allocation and distribution of inputs under FISP in the District. He further appealed to Government through the District Commissioner’s office to quickly announce the maize floor price as farmers were running out of patience.

FARMERS ADVISE TO EMBRACE CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY

Petauke District Commissioner has advised farmers in the Province and particularly Petauke District to embrace the modern Conservation Agriculture Technology which CFU and other stakeholders like ZNFU are promoting .Speaking at the Mechanization road show field day, she advised farmers to have a positive mind that can quickly adapt to change and take advantage of technologies that are being offloaded on the market. And also speaking during the same event, Petauke DFA chairperson, Mr. Joseph Lungu said “the Union does not only speak for farmers but also provide solutions to increase production and productivity.”

PETAUKE BEE KEEPERS HAPPY WITH HONEY PRICE

Farmer’s in Petauke have expressed satisfaction with the market linkage that the Zambia Honey Council has established in the district for bee keepers. The private buyer Agri-world is currently offering K6.50 per kg to the farmers and has been consistent in both payments and collections.

NORTHERN REGION               

 

CHILUBI RICE FARMERS STUCK WITH THE COMMODITY

Rice farmers in Chilubi have no market where to offload the commodity they have grown in area and have appealed to the government to quickly intervene. Kampombo Cooperative secretary Mr. Pride Kaunda observed that rice farmers are frustrated in Chilubi because the current marketing policy did not favour them as they are left to organize market linkages on their own. Despite Rice farmers in the area responding to government calls of diversification, they had been facing challenges in selling rice because government has not been buying the commodity from them as they are doing for maize farmers. Meanwhile, Chilubi mainland this year has produced estimated 7,000 x 50kg bags of rice. 

ALL IS SET FOR THE MBALA DISTRICT SHOW

Mbala district held its District Agricultural show today and the ZNFU participated through Mbala District Farmers’ Association and Nondo Information Centre which was represented Nondo Block. The theme for this year’s show was ‘Breaking the new grounds’.

SOUTHERN B REGION

MAZABUKA FARM WORKERS TO BENEFIT FROM LCS

Farm workers at Rafeen Farm among other farms in Mazabuka district have expressed interest to join the Union and participate on the Lima Credit Scheme program. Speaking at a meeting today, Mr. Ivor Evans encouraged his workers to join ZNFU in order for them to double their production by participating on the Lima credit scheme.

In a similar development, another meeting at Northern Zambezi Traders (PAMA MEAT) was organized with the same view of helping the farm workers to access inputs through the ZNFU’s Lima Credit Scheme and that they will not have to look for an off taker, as the company is ready to buy off the commodity from its workers.

WORLD VISION ZAMBIA TO COLLABORATE WITH ZNFU

World Vision is implementing a number of agricultural activities in Namwala and has since approached Namwala DFA so that all the trainings they intend to conduct with the farmers are channeled through the Information Centres. The trainings will be conducted for all the contact farmers in the following ; conservation farming,  post-harvest technologies and sensitize farmers on the importance of crop diversification in commodities such as cow peas, Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes.

The organization has also challenged ZNFU and NAIS to come up with radio forums programs at the Macha’s vision broadcasting community radio. The programs will aim at educating and informing the community on what ZNFU and World vision are doing in the area. 

NORTH WESTERN REGION

ALL IS SET FOR THE NORTH WESTERN PROVINCIAL SHOW

The North Western Provincial Agricultural, Mining and Commercial Show will to be held in the showground from 20^th - 22^nd June under the theme “BREAKING NEW GROUNDS.”  In relation with the theme, the technology of the ZNFU e-extension is definitely breaking new grounds some farmers have since started accessing extension services using this system. The show will therefore be a platform at which the system will be exhibited and shared with more farmers as they visit the ZNFU stand.

WESTERN REGION

MUMBWA FARMERS AWAIT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAIZE FLOOR PRICE

Farmers in Mumbwa are eagerly awaiting the announcement of the maize floor price. This came to light during an Information Centre meeting in Keezwa IC's Shibunji District held on Tuesday this week. Speaking on behalf of the farmers, information centre Chairperson Adam Kipupu said the delay in the announcement of the Maize floor price will give an upper hand to the private buyers whose dealings with the farmer are not fair. Mr. Kipupu further said all farmers in the area are expecting that the floor Price to be announced will be higher than K65.00 per 50 kg bag considering the rise in the cost of inputs.

SUPERIOR MILLING STARTS OPERATIONS IN MUMBWA

The long awaited Superior Milling branch officially opened its doors for business on Tuesday the 10th of June, 2014.  Gracing the opening Ceremony was Mumbwa District Commissioner Mr. Sunday Shamabanse. Mr. Shamabanse said that the venture that Superior milling has launched is in line with governments endeavour in terms of Job creation. He also thanked the company for looking towards Mumbwa district in their quest to increase and the companies’ outlets. He further said ‘Superior Milling will add to the already existing agro off takers of maize in the district.’ The opening Ceremony took place at the ZNFU's Agriculture Service Centre where Superior Milling will be operating from.

JTI TO PROMOTE A NEW TOBACCO CURING METHOD

JTI is now promoting a more environmental friendly and cost effective way of curing the tobacco to farmers in Kaoma. JTI is trying to come up with ways of preventing environmental degradation which has seen a lot of wood lots cut down for fire wood which is used for curing purposes. The new technology called Matope Balm will also help in reducing the colours of the crop to two; reduce on the quantity of firewood used and days for complete curing. This will help improve on quality and reduce the cost of curing while addressing environmental sustainability through the promotion of Afforestation by planting selected tree species that can help in firewood and poles for construction. Furthermore, farmers are motivated by receiving a payment of 8 cents per surviving tree annually.   

Food, FRA, and floor prices

I've totally run out of ideas for snappy titles. Come to think of it, lately I've totally run out of ideas. 

Still, wanted to share a great quote from this week's Stuff Expat Aid Workers Like (definitely a more regular and better read than this blog). 

[As a quick rule of thumb for those considering the leap to 'the field': if you’re in an area where different cultures have been interacting, fighting, and generally sloshing around for centuries, chances are the food is relatively decent. Which generally means the coasts. The further inland you go, the greater the chance that the local culture has been spent centuries perfecting various ways to eat sorghum. (Thus the tendency to facipulate those life-saving workshops in places like Bali, Istanbul, or Rome: amazing coffee breaks and team dinners.)]

Wow did they nail this on the head ... Zambia is so thoroughly nshima-fied that I'm starting to discern between different places and how they serve nshima (buhobe, sima, nsima, ubwali, ugali, nsadza, pap, etc.). I've noticed much of the restaurant nshima in Western lately has taken on a certain odor and texture indicative of the owners cutting the maize meal with cassava in order to keep the prices steady; maize meal, especially the refined version, so-called "breakfast meal", is spectacularly highly priced right now. Reasons are mainly around the FRA (the default supplier of maize grain to the large-scale national millers (AMC "Mother's Pride", Mealile, APG, ChoBro, etc.): 

1. They are still offloading stocks from last year (the PF wants to take no risks with over-exporting, as that was political dynamite last year);
2. The Government (known here as "Government") has yet to set the "floor price" for maize. Speaking with a friend of mine via Facebook (Dr. William Burke), he clarified that is something of a misnomer; a true floor price is a mandated minimum price (per weight or volume) below which sellers cannot legally purchase. The FRA floor price is simply a pan-territorial price, e.g., every large, medium and satellite (e.g., typically small and remote) depot in the country will pay farmers the same price, regardless of whether that farmer is selling in Shan'gombo (800 km and 16 hours from Lusaka) or Chibombo (the first district immediately north of Lusaka). 

The second point is a touchy one for Government; as I've said sporadically over the years, maize (and its main derivative, maize meal) is staggeringly important in Zambian political necessity. The strange phenomenon that is Zambia's high urban population (relative to the population) means that much of the population that is politically very active consumes lots of nshima, and ergo wants cheap mealie meal. On the flip side, the rural population (the producers ... note, commercial producers are not allowed to sell maize to FRA), wants a high price for the commodities they produce. With the current ruling party (the Patriotic Front or PF) being a proponent of "pro-poor" policies, that puts them in a tough spot ... the urban poor want cheap food, the rural poor want higher prices, so they have to hit something of a sweet spot to satisfy both. 

Compounding the headache for this year is the bumper harvest recorded this past season. There is a lot of maize out there; not necessarily by Iowa standards, but for Zambia 3.3 million tonnes is pretty good despite the still shockingly low productivity levels. Everyone who grew the maize (rural) wants to sell it all at [much] more than the K65 which has been the market price since 2009. The urbanites see the bumper harvest as a sign that mealie meal will get back to K30 or K40 / 25kg bag as it was a few years ago. 

Small wonder that a maize cob features so prominently on Zambia's Coat of Arms, bracketed by the motto "One Zambia, One Nation" ... wonder if it stands to reason that it might by the linchpin between urban-and-rural.