Lungu Orders Agricultural Minister to Suspend Maize Exports

Following a dry spell in some parts of the country, President Lungu has directed the Ministry of Agriculture to immediately suspend the export of maize and mealie-meal, until the country can take stock of food reserves.

Many Zambians haven been concerned over increasing mealie prices recently, the President noted that this was due to grain marketers and ZNFU members who have been selling at export to the millers who in turn hike prices up.  

President Lungu said this yesterday in Chisamba when he graced the sixth Agritech expo themed,” growing knowledge of the future” which attracted 223 exhibitors and 19 countries. Mr Lungu also gave Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo three days to pay all farmers for the maize they supplied to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

He said he had noted with sadness that farmers who supplied maize to FRA last year were not yet paid and directed Mr Katambo to pay them by Tuesday next week.