The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy MMD has warned that any further increase in the buying price for maize will push up the prices of mealie meal.
National Chairperson for Agriculture Chishala Chilufya says that the adjusted 85 Kwacha price is reasonable because farmers will make a reasonable profit.
Speaking to Breeze News, Mr. Chilufya stated that it is important for people to understand that buying a 50 kilogramme bag of maize at 150 Kwacha would have a direct impact on prices of mealie meal.
He says that millers will have no choice but to increase the price of mealie meal if they start to buy maize from farmers at a very high price.
Mr. Chilufya commended President Edgar Lungu for increasing the buying price from 75 to 85 Kwacha for a 50 kilogramme bag of maize.
Mr. Chilufya’s statement has been echoed by MAZ, the Millers Association of Zambia, which says prices of mealie meal will go up due to government’s decision to increase the maize floor price.
MAZ Chairperson, Andrew Chintala says that there is need for government to be sensitive to the cost of production millers incur