The Zambia National Farmers’ Union on 20th January 2012, appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, where it called on the private sector to demonstrate its worth and trust for it to be involved in the country’s agricultural marketing. Making a presentation on behalf of the Union, ZNFU president Jervis Zimba told the Committee that while the Union supported Government policy that brought into play the private sector to take a much bigger responsibility in agriculture marketing, there were certain vulturistic tenets amongst some private sector players that were bent on ripping-off farmers, especially small scale farmers. Mr. Zimba said the private sector had to have proven genuine intentions and motives to support the marketing of farmers’ produce with demonstrated capacity and total commitment by offering good prices and exhibiting a credible commercial business partnership with farmers.
He said it was sad that crop buying in Zambia was the most sandwiched business by traders of all types and character, majority of whom had no business premises, nor registered businesses. He said this rendered the market period a free for all affair. He said this was reminiscent of placing farmers under the charge of vultures, in the of name grain traders or private sector.He said agriculture traders, had to first put their house in order, and earn the trust of farmers and Government. The Union was also represented by Mr. Ndambo Ndambo – Executive Director ZNFU, Mr. Humphrey Katotoka – Economist, Mr. Reuben Banda - from Musika and Mr. Rob Munro, the Technical Assistant from Musika.
