While government is bragging over the 2010 much talked about bumper harvest, Zambia’s high levels of inefficiency in harvested crop risks plunging into a food deficit nation as more and more harvested crops especially maize is going to waste owing to poor storage.
An on the spot check by Muvi TV in Chisamba’s Central province more 50 kilogram bags of maize are decaying because of poor storage.
A snap survey of two depots namely Mwachisompola and Keembe, revealed hundreds of fifty kilogram bags of maize lying on plain ground while some of the grain is spilling out of the bags due to high temperature.
Some residents were also found repacking some of the maize that had spilled out of the bags, into new FRA bags that were recently acquired.
Officials found at Keembe depot complained to MUVI TV news that they were given poor quality sacks in which to pack their maize adding that they could not resist the high temperature that the country experienced in the recent past.
Recently Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Dr. Eustakio Kazonga refuted a report that was aired on Muvi TV news describing it as lacking facts.
This was despite Muvi TV showing a video footage of rotting maize at a named depot in Kabwe owing to poor and inadequate storage.
[ MUV-TV]
Misplaced priorities
This lot is clueless,inept and just plain stup.id
MUVI sounds like they wish others to fail and then they can celebrate. Considering that this is amtter of national food security (nshima for all Zambians including MUVI reporters), this MUVI report does not help to build but to destroy that which is being achieved. Quite sadistic really, there is no better way to describe it.
Regarding the high temperatures, I would suggest that MUVI can help by donating some air conditioning units.
# 2 H.H. Sata . Muvi TV has a right to inform the Zambian people on whats happening. Its good to have a bumper harvest but the government should also put measures in place so that the grain does not go waste. Otherwise it is a waste of time producing more maize when we dont have proper storage facilities. Or you want us to start eating Nshima 8 times a day so that we dont worry about the storage? Lets face facts and make corrective measures.
@2 The role of MUVI TV is to inform the Zambians what is on the ground and not Donating what ever. This is the role of the FRA and they are paid for that and not MUVI TV. Please FRA do your job that roting maize is Tax Payer’s maney. Remember there are people going without food.
Iwe No.2. U have made me laugh.
Anyway, the thing is farmers spend time and resources to have the maize produced. The Govt., throught the fertilizer support incurs a cost for the fertilizer which they sell cheaply to farmers in cooperatives/clubs.
Now to have the maize produced go to waste due to carelessness is un acceptabel. If it was in China a country with poor human rights record, the culprits would have been taken to a firing squad and killed. Serious. jail the culprits for economic sabortage. Wasting “Bumper Harvest”.
I mentioned here that our achievements in this country just come by luck and not planning. 1) We have copper but we cant mine it so we call outsiders who mine it and do what they want with it. 2) God gives us good weather whic produces a BUMPER HARVEST, but we dont know what to do it so rain comes and destroys so that we shall have to import the shotfall from Brazil.3) Next we shall import foreigners to bear children on our behalf.
@2 you have just displayed how shallow you thinking is. Your atterances do not hold any water at all. Better be quiet plz. Remember “that most people do not look stupid till they start talking” Chaooo
@2 you have just displayed how shallow your thinking is. Your atterances do not hold any water at all. Better be quiet plz. Remember “that most people do not look stupid till they start talking” Chaooo
Any ideas from the opposition on how they would ensure that the same does not happen and what percentage of the budget will they allocate that policy? This would be more constructive rather than just highlighting the problem. Also would be interesting to see what percentage of the harvest has been lost due to it being stored in unsuitable conditions. If the percentage is relatively low, then why all the fuss? This is the reason why sometimes it is better to sell off excess maize rather than store it, but of course the govt has been heavily criticised in some quarters for doing just that.
@ #6, Deja Vu.
On point #3, i recon the so called Chinese investors have already started……
No.2 stop living in a fool’s world. MUVI TV are doing the nation a service by informing that the maize is going to waste due to poor storage facilities, period. Govt as usual has denied this and instead attributed it to “spillage”. how can hundreds of bags be called spillage.
No. 2 is simply hullucinating. He does’nt know what he is talking about. Just keep quiet if you have nothing to write home about.
Quote: “While government is BRAGGING (emphasis mine) over the 2010 MUCH TALKED ABOUT bumper harvest…………….”
#3,4,5,7,8,11,12: check the above, sensible people talk and blog within the context of the topic, and not just opening your mouth after you read one or two words. Read the above quote again and tell me if it was purely meant to inform the nation. Or if MUVI reporters are not well versed in the Queen’s language, they can use their mother’s tongue. As it is their language is leading, meant to sway people’s thinking rather than informing.
My question is’Why shud maize be wasted because of poor storage facilities’?don’t the government have qualified Agriculturists to advise on under wat room tempareture and condition shud maize be stored in order for it not to rot or be attacked by pests?I am studying Advanced Agriculture in Russia and in my third year now and am able to give a prescription to an organisation on how to store maize or cereal crops so that they are not wasted,so u will keep on waiting for my coming back to Zambia to come and help the government improve on maize storage conditios??????????????????????