By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) calls for Government to reveal implementation status for maize/mealie meal export & import MOU between Zambia and DRC.
CTPD Researcher for Trade and Development Emmanuel Muma said government should share a comprehensive and clear implementation status for the Maize/Mealie Meal Export & import MOU made on October 2, 2019 between Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mr Muma said the center notes that under the MOU Zambia undertake to export or supply 200,000 Metric tons of Maize, and 400,000 Metric tons of mealie meal to Congo on an annual basis beginning with the 2019/2020 harvesting season.
He said it’s over one and half years from the time the MOU was signed and the Government has not revealed a comprehensive and clear draw down export schedule..
Mr Muma said the center is also concerned to know if the export market opportunity under this MOU is in the public knowledge and whether local small-scale farmers (SSF) have been sensitized countrywide and the extent to which they have been taken on board to participate in the export market under MoU.
“CTPD considers the MOU as one strategic and potential tool for providing alternative export market for small scale farmers for this year’s marketing season (2022/2023) and beyond. The MoU is also key to promoting private sector participation in commodity marketing and input supply, but initiatives like this can only be achieved by promoting transparency in the implementation process,” he said.
He has urged the Government through FRA to stick to its mandated procurement of strategic reserves as provided in the act on the purchasing of 500,000 MT for reserves.
Mr Muma said that the Ministry of Agriculture shares the MOU road map if it has already developed one, this will help various interested stakeholders to know how best they can participate in the process.
