Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Green Mbozi has dismissed claims by millers that the challenge they are facing in accessing maize in the ongoing crop marketing season is due to some farmers holding on to maize stock hoping for a higher price going forward.
Mr. Mbozi has argued the millers’ assertions of farmers holding on to maize, saying some farmers may only be remaining with stock for consumption and not to sell at a high price.
In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Mbozi has explained that as the marketing season advances, it becomes challenging to find maize on the market as most farmers would have sold most of their stock at the beginning of the season.
He was reacting to complaints by Millers’ Association of Zambia President Andrew Chintala that millers are facing challenges to procure maize from farmers in the ongoing crop marketing season due to non-availability of the commodity on the market as farmers and traders are holding on to the maize hoping for better prices.
Credit :PHOENIX RADIO