The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has publicly differed with the Crushers and Edible Oil Refiners Association (CEDORA) over soya-beans marketing.
CEDORA recently issued a statement opposing the decision made by Oilseed stakeholders to export 100, 000 tonnes of raw soya beans.
CEDORA Director Aubrey Chibumba said processors have not been given an opportunity to acquire the soya beans needed for the processing of cooking oil and other products locally.
But ZNFU Public Relations Manager Calvin Kaleyi in a media statement said CEDORA should be buying what they need but not at the expense of deterring other buyers by pretending that they can buy everything.
Mr. Kaleyi said ZNFU wants a level playing field in crop marketing to enhance competition.
He warned that the Government should be aware of the existence of cartels in the agricultural market space.
Mr. Kaleyi said there are cartels in the agricultural market space that are doing a disservice to farmers.
“The Union and other stakeholders are on record favouring export of surplus production as per statement issued earlier where 100,000MT was established to be surplus and unanimously agreed to be available for export. Anything else besides this position is contradictory to Government policy and the signals which farmers have been receiving from the policy makers, including the highest office. Why should anyone advocate to the Government that they vary and micromanage the exportable surplus of soyabeans? Policy consistency and certainty is good for the entire soyabeans value chain and above all will instill confidence for further investments in soyabeans production,” Mr. Kaleyi said.
“The Republican President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema has been at the helm of marketing Zambia to become a credible source of agricultural products to supply our neighbours plus the rest of Africa and remain a dependable source of agricultural products for own consumption. Unfortunately, contradictory statements attributed to CEDORA are now hinting that they can buy everything.
Well, CEDORA should be buying what they need but not at the expense of deterring other buyers by pretending that they can buy everything or reducing exports volumes agreed by the stakeholders.Such selfish motives should not be entertained as this has potential to erode confidence in the soyabeans industry,” he said.
Mr. Kaleyi continued:”ZNFU is dismayed by such disingenuous sentiments. In fact, Dr Aubrey Chibumba, who issued the statement saying exporting will lead to artificial shortages, attended the stakeholders meeting and at no time during the meeting did he advocate to other stakeholders that domestic consumption is sitting at 421,000MT nor the fact that exporting will cause shortages. We challenge him to substantiate his new position and the allegation that ZNFU rejected offers from CEDORA to buy 100,00MT of soyabeans. Farmers deal with buyers of soyabeans, whether CEDORA members or not. So this allegation is misleading and outright false.“
“Instead, CEDORA’s complaint during the stakeholders meeting was directed at stockfeed processors as he alleged that CEDORA were not receiving placement orders for soya cake requirements from the stockfeed processors, hence they advocated for free fall exporting from August onwards for both soyabeans and soya cake. To now turn around and allege that there will be an artificial shortage by exporting is strange as this does not tally with the existing trading environment because the stakeholders favour regulated exports,” Mr. Kaleyi said.
“No one wants to deny local processors desired raw materials but we are against oversupply as this is to the detriment of farmers. We urge the Government to be alive to the existence of cartels in the agricultural market space doing a disservice to farmers all in the name of value addition. There is a need for a level playing field in crop marketing to enhance competition. Exporting of what is required in the export markets whether soya cake, soyabeans or stock feed should be encouraged and not curtailed as this will spur production,” he concluded.
LT are those Zambian hands holding seeds. College journalism of cut and paste.
The prices for commodities are not fair at all.
You should have looked at the toils of farmers and access expenses on growing these crops.
Please if there’s anyway possible think about us because we all realize nothing but lose.