The Zambia National Farmers Union has voiced its concern against any policy that would seek to promote value addition only by curtailing grain exports. The union described such an idea as misplaced and short sighted. It said the hope that all production will be channelled to processing of finished products must be rejected as this would lead to suppression of producer prices.
Below is the Full Press release
GRAIN EXPORTS VS EXPORT OF VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS ONLY – A PRODUCERS PERSPECTIVE!
It is well documented that Zambia should be the hub of grain production in the region. The soils are well suited and the yields capable of being attained in this country are next to none. For example, in Mpongwe yields are as high as 9.5 metric tons per hectare and 9 metric tons per hectare for maize and wheat, respectively.
On the other hand, despite the natural resource endowments in support of grain production, the country remains at a stage of merely satisfying domestic requirements with minimal exports attained. We read the article in the Daily Nation of Monday 1st February 2021 under the heading; “Value addition key to cracking foreign markets – Saasa” with keen interest and were disappointed.
While we agree that value addition is important to improving foreign exchange earnings of a particular commodity, there is a compelling case in favour of export of grain for Zambia.
Further, it must also be appreciated that it is demand that drives production and Zambia is surrounded by sovereign countries with peculiar industrial capacities. Some have milling capacities while others do not. Therefore, it is worth noting from the onset that the policy to mill all grain in Zambia would not strike maximum benefits for the grain industry nor the country. This is primarily because of not only the limited capacity to crush or mill all its grain for both domestic and export purposes but also because the value-added products have limited shelf life in some cases e.g., roller meal plus the fact that demand in the export markets is not homogeneous.
In short, grain exports given its demand provide an added lucrative avenue to earn FOREX and can be a relief for excess production. Therefore, grain exports should be encouraged as this incentivizes the sector and has potential to increase domestic production to carter for local manufacturing needs and grain export utilization. A model that seeks to promote value addition ONLY by curtailing grain exports in the hope that all production will be channelled to processing of finished products is misplaced, short sighted and must be rejected as this is what suppresses producer prices.
Farmers need export parity prices to be incentivised to produce more. Grain exports are potential sources of FOREX in addition to earnings realized from finished products like edible oil, wheat flour, stock feed, and mealie meal which are processed from soya bean, wheat, and maize grain, respectively. The attractiveness of grain exports, globally, lies in the potential for multiple industrial use and this is the reason why even developed countries, from the west to the east, still promote grain exports. So long as the export market continues to demand for grains there is no need to entertain policies that will in the end cut production and reduce farmer alternative markets. In short, why change a win-win formula? There is no room for such one-sided policies in Zambia. The Grain Industry Stakeholders speak with one voice through industry consensus positions. What we desire most to propel grain production is the lifting of maize and mealie meal export bans by Government.
Issued by Kakoma Calvin Kaleyi
Media and Public relations Manager
It is very true….who
It is very true….maize grain must be allowed to be exported as well. Farmers should benefit from their hard work.