WHEAT STAKEHOLDERS AGREE ON WHEAT IMPORTS WARMA HOLDS PUBLIC HEARINGS FISH SUPPLY FROM AQUACULTURE INCREASES TO 22, 753 METRIC TONS

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1 FRIDAY BRIEF WEEK 29, 2016 This Week s Highlights. WHEAT STAKEHOLDERS AGREE ON WHEAT IMPORTS WARMA HOLDS PUBLIC HEARINGS FISH SUPPLY FROM AQUACULTURE INCREASES TO 22, 753 METRIC TONS... SEE DETAILED UPDATES BELOW INDUSTRY UPDATES WHEAT STAKEHOLDERS AGREE ON WHEAT IMPORTS The wheat stakeholders met on Thursday 14 th July 2016 at the ZNFU offices to review the current wheat marketing season with reference to the local wheat supply and demand needs as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture last week. The Stakeholders resolved to appoint a smaller committee to consider the request by millers for an importation allowance of about 59,000MT of wheat with due consideration of the locally available stocks and the estimated requirements before the 2016 crop is ready for milling. The wheat stakeholders sub-committee met today, 15 th July 2016 and after reconciling the current wheat stock figures held by farmers, millers and traders, the meeting agreed to an estimate of one-month deficit of 30,000-35,000MT tons of wheat to cover for the one-month maturation window before most of the wheat crop is ready for milling. It was therefore resolved that an initial importation of 10,000MT of B1 quality wheat be allowed as part of a phased wheat importation process. Millers further agreed to offer signed pre-harvest contracts to farmers at reasonable market price as their measure of their commitment to building the local wheat industry as opposed to flooding the markets with subsidized imports. WARMA HOLDS PUBLIC HEARINGS The Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA) is in the process of holding public hearings and has so far held meetings in the following catchment areas; Luangwa catchment - Mkushi (Mkushi river sub catchment), Chisamba (Mwomboshi sub catchment) Kabwe (Mulungushi Sub catchment) and Chipata. Upper Kafue catchment in Kitwe and Chingola. 1

2 Upper Zambezi in Solwezi and Mwinilunga; Lower Zambezi; Lower Kafue in Mazabuka (Kaleya and Magoye sub catchments), in Choma, Kalomo; and Luapula (Luombwa sub catchments). The remaining areas are mostly parts of Central, Southern and Northern Provinces, and public hearing will be held in the areas by October WARMA will sent out notifications of the schedule public hearings to the respective areas in time. WARMA has further encouraged users of surface water or those with dams without permits and have not been in touch with WARMA to make applications for use of the surface water. WARMA has further indicated to ZNFU that legislation on ground water permit issuance was expected to be ready by September The process has just started with the technical expert group preparing the technical content which would then be delivered to legal drafters and subjected to stakeholders consultation. Groundwater users were also encouraged to notify WARMA on the location of their boreholes and use of groundwater. The Legislation supporting formation of Water User Associations was expected to be ready by January FISH SUPPLY FROM AQUACULTURE INCREASES TO 22, 753 METRIC TONS Zambia s Fish supply from aquaculture increased from 5,125 metric tons in 2004 to 22,753 metric tons in This is according to the speech by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MFL) Dr. David Shamulenge read on his behalf by the Director Human Resources Management-MFL during the stakeholders meeting for development of fingerings and broodstock standards on 12 th July, 2016 in Chongwe of which ZNFU participated. During the same meeting, stakeholders heard that Zambia will require 246,890 MT of fish by 2025 if its desire for every Zambian to consume 12kg of fish annually was to be achieved. It estimated that on average, a Zambian consumes about 6.5 kg of fish annually. Further, it is projected that capture fisheries is likely to only contribute 32% of this requirement and hence the rest would have to be provided from aquaculture. According to the preliminary results of the baseline survey conducted in North-western and Copperbelt provinces by the fisheries department, farmers produce as low as 4.1 metric tons of fish per hectare per year and this is less than 50% of the productivity that can be obtained under optimal conditions. Meanwhile, after reviewing the standards on fingerlings and brood stock, stakeholders agreed that once gazetted, the standards should first be implemented as voluntary for a period of 3 to 5 years and thereafter reviewed. The aim of the standards is to enhance productivity and trade among others. Farmers cautioned that it should be ensured that the implementation of standards does not add to the already high cost of production faced by farmers. **************************************************************************************************************** 2

3 ALERTS!!!!!!!!!!!! TUTA ABSOLUTA!!!!! Attention Farmers!!! Be informed that there is a pest attacking tomatoes, called Tuta absoluta or leaf miner. Tuta absoluta is a serious pest of tomatoes causing losses of up to 100% by mining the leaves and burrowing into the fruits. Since the first detection in Zambia, the pest has spread fast causing very high levels of damage to tomato crops. Tomato growers are therefore advised and encouraged to visit their nearest Agro-chemical supplier or Ministry of Agriculture office for professional advice on how to contain, control and prevent it. You can also contact the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) Entomologist- Mr. Chipabika on PAZ NATIONAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TIME: 08HRS-13HRS DATE: 26 TH JULY 2016 VENUE: MULUNGUSHI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE NB: Please request for the copy of the consitition from the secretariat if you have not yet received an electronic version UPCOMING EVENTS The Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) National Annual General Meeting on 26 th July 2016 at the Mulungushi National Conference Centre from 8:00Hrs to 13:00hrs MEMBERSHIP ALERT! The ZNFU/ZFEA was visited by inspectors from the Ministry of Labour during the 1 st week of June, 2016 in order to conduct an inventory of members who are covered by the ZFEA collective agreement with workers unions. They believe that there are farmers using the collective agreement without being members of ZFEA, in which case they should be abiding by the Minimum Wages & Conditions Act and SI No. 46 (minimum basic wage K700 plus 30% housing allowance, etc). Farmers who wish to use ZFEA s collective agreement must be paid-up members of both ZNFU and ZFEA. Being a member of ZNFU only does not automatically entitle you to use the collective agreement. Members of TAZ are covered by a ZFEA block membership agreement. Payment of ZNFU and ZFEA subscriptions for 2016 can be made at ZNFU Head Office or any ZNFU district office, or bank deposit / transfer. The ZNFU membership rate vary according to your membership category (Contact any ZNFU Office for details), while The ZFEA rates per annum are: Up to 50 workers: K Over 50, less than 100: K or more: K1,

4 If paying at ZNFU district offices, you should inform Billy Mudenda ( bmudenda@znfu.org.zm ) quoting company name, receipt number and amount paid. If paying by bank deposit or transfer, please bmudenda@znfu.org.zm with deposit slip or transcript. Bank details are: Name: Zambia Farm Employers Association Bank: ZANACO Branch: Government Business Centre Branch code: 050 Ac number: ANNOUNCEMENTS DISCOUNT OFFER ON EMPTY GRAIN BAGS UV TREATED The Zambia National Farmers Union has negotiated for a discount on bulk buying of empty grain bags from Wonderful Group for members. ZNFU members can now buy a bale of 500 by 50kg bags (brown) at K1,000 or K1,600 for white bags. All interested members can contact with ZNFU Head Office. OPPORTUNITY FOR A FARMING PARTNERSHIP An emergent farmer based in Mumbwa Big Concession area along Mumbwa/Kasempa road is interested in partnering with fellow farmers. He has three hundred hectares (300 ha) of land with road frontage suitable for all agricultural purposes. For those interested, kindly call or growthpoint@gmail.com UPCOMING AGRICULTURAL HOLIDAYS Farmers Day First Monday in August Independence Day 24 th October Christmas Day 25 th December LIQUID NITROGEN FOR SALE AT BREEDING IMPULS ZAMBIA "Breeding Impuls Zambia would hereby like to inform you that it now has Liquid Nitrogen available from its premises in the Agricultural and Commercial Society Zambia grounds. Our address is Fens Investment Building, Lusaka Show grounds, Cattle section. 4

5 The Agricultural Knowledge & Training Centre Offers short courses to farmers who want to improve their farming activities and increase profit in all their farming enterprises. Coming up: Tuesday, 19 th of July Safe and Responsible Use of Agrochemicals by Mr. Israel Mashile, Stewardship Manager for Southern Africa, Bayer Crop Science The one-day workshop will emphasize on: Responsible use of agrochemicals Guidelines and correct handling of chemicals Correct storage of chemicals Reading of labels, Spill prevention and cleaning up of spills Target group: Large Scale Farmers, Farm Employees, Emergent Farmers, Agro Dealers and Agricultural Service Providers. Entrance fee: Free Date: Tuesday, 19 th of July 2016 Time: 9:00 to 15:00 Venue: Conference Hall Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust (GART) 65km north of Lusaka along T2 Please register by sending an to: Or call: Martin Sikanyika Upcoming Emergent Farmer Trainings: 5

6 Wednesday, 20 th of July: Tractor Maintenance Tuesday & Wednesday, 26 th, 27th of July: Farm Economics CHULU BORANS BULL SALE and FIELD DAY DATE: FRIDAY 29TH JULY 2016 VENUE: MWANSA CHAWA CATTLE YARDS, MKUSHI VIEWING: COMMENCES HOURS SALE: TO HOURS FIELD DAY: TO HOURS 6

7 12 BORAN BULLS PEDIGREE AND PURE BRED FOR STUD AND BEEF HERDS FIELD DAY TROPICAL PASTURES - AN UPDATE ON NEW CULTIVARS BEEF VACCINES - PREGNANCY & CALF LOSSES - DECISIONS & UPDATES BREEDING HEIFER SELECTION FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE BY MID JULY CRAIG SHIEL craigshiel@iwayafrica.com SALLY SHIEL sallyshiel@iwayafrica.com **************************************************************************************************************** NEWS FROM THE REGIONS COPPERBELT REGION MPONGWE FARMERS APPEAL FOR A FUEL SERVICE STATION Farmers in Mpongwe have passionately made an earnest appeal to the government and private sector companies to consider opening a fuel service station in the district. There has been a makeshift fuel station which has failed to meet the ever increasing number of automobiles the district. This came to light during the District Farmer's Association Annual General Meeting held in Mpongwe early in the week. Meanwhile Mufulira District Farmer's Association ushered in a new Executive Committee with a new Chairperson at the just ended Annual General Meeting held in Mufulira early this week. A Mr. Joseph Bwalya of Butondo Information Centre of Mufulira DFA was elected Chairman of the DFA. LUFWANYAMA RECORDS TUTA ABSOLUTA OUTBREAK A tomato pest called Tuta Absoluta has broken out in Lufwanyama district. Over 20 hectares of Tomato fields have been reported to have been affected by the pest. The affected farmers in the area have since appealed to government to quickly intervene before the pest devastates the tomato industry in the district. 7

8 EASTERN REGION A FORESTRY DEPARTMENT DISTRIBUTES OVER 2000 TREE SEEDLINGS TO FARMERS The Forestry Department under the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection has embarked on a tree seedlings distribution program to farmers in Lundazi District. The program had been designed to help curb the rampant deforestation problem in the district especially in tobacco growing chiefdoms. The Forestry Department has so far managed to distribute 2,100 eucalyptus tree seedlings in three chiefdoms. The District Forestry Officer for Lundazi (DFO), Mukena Musiwa said 1,300 tree seedlings were distributed in Mwase Mphangwe chiefdom, 650 distributed in Magodi and 150 in Mphamba chiefdom of Lundazi district. He also said the farmers can use the trees as woodlots or fencing poles after 3-4 years. This information came to light when ZNFU staff in Lundazi visited the Forestry Department office in Lundazi. MAIZE PRICE INCREASED Due to scarcity of maize in Chadiza this year, the price of maize grain has kept increasing. A check by ZNFU staff at Msokosela Information Centre of Chadiza DFA found that Cargill has increased the offer price for maize from K1.90 per kg to K2.10 per kg, while other buyers were found buying at K2.30 per kg. Farmers. Most of the farmers talked to have expressed happiness at the price trend for Maize in the district EASTERN B REGION UKWIMI FARMERS BEMOAN POOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE Farmers in Ukwimi have expressed displeasure at the poor state of the road which connects the area to Petauke central business district. The farmers have complained that the poor state of the road is hindering them from accessing good commodity market prices because traders do not reach their area. Ukwimi farmers have since called on Government to work on the road. This came to light during an Executive Committee meeting for Ukwimi Farmers Association which took place of 13th July FRA MAIZE FLOOR PRICE REMAINS UNATTRACTIVE NYIMBA FARMERS Farmers in Nyimba district have charged that the maize floor price which Government has offered through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is still unattractive even with the slight adjustment from K75.00 to K85.00 for a 50kg bag. The farmers have added that it will be difficult for them to sell their maize to FRA especially that private buyers are surpassing and offering better prices. And a check by ZNFU staff at 8 FRA satellite depots found that farmers have not delivered any maize despite the FRA markets opening a few days ago. Most private buyers in the district are buying at K100 per 50kg bag of maize. 8

9 SOUTHERN REGION GOVERNMENT TO CONSTRUCT 90 DIP TANKS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE Government has revealed plans to construct a total of 90 animal dip tanks for livestock disease control in Southern province. This came to light when the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hon. Maxus Ng onga gave the opening speech at the 2016 Southern Province Agriculture and Commercial Show. In his speech during the show whose theme was managing environment for growth, the deputy minister said that the contract for the construction of the dip tanks was already approved. He further disclosed that apart from construction of the dip tanks, construction of 2 Artificial Insemination centres in Kalomo and Namwala districts have also reached an advanced stage. He added that in order to consolidate the control of livestock diseases and vectors in the province, government has in the first half of 2016 vaccinated 333,100 cattle against foot and mouth disease FMD while 390,000 chickens were vaccinated against new castle disease. LIVINGSTONE /KAZUNGULA DFA URGED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT The District Agriculture Coordinator for Livingstone, Dr. Jackson Soko, has called on the Livingstone/Kazungula District Farmers Association (DFA) to work closely with the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and other key stakeholders in resolving local level lobby issues affecting farmers. He further challenged the DFA to come up with other business initiatives other than relying on membership fees only; adding that by doing so, members will appreciate the existence of the association and ultimately record an increase membership. The DACO said this during the annual general meeting for Livingstone/Kazungula DFA which was held on 14 th July, 2016 in Livingstone. During the AGM, Mrs. Veronica Mushupa Sianchenga, who is the immediate past Vice Chairperson was elected Chairperson and Mr. David Sichilima was elected Vice Chairperson. And Mr. Shadreck Kabika was voted in as the new beef representative on the DFA executive committee. The positions for Chairperson and beef representative fell vacant after the two former office bearers resigned from their positions to take up other assignments. FRA MAIZE BUYING EXERCISE COMMENCE IN MONZE DISTRICT The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has commenced the maize buying exercise in Monze district at the government pegged price of K85.00 per 50kg bag. And some private buyers are also buying maize from farmers. A snap check by ZNFU established that NWK buying maize and have adjusted the price from to K102 per 50 kg bag from K95 per 50kg last week. NWK is also buying soybeans from farmers and have adjusted their price from K4.02 per kg to K4.90 per kg. 9

10 NORTHERN REGION FRA COMMENCE MAIZE PURCHASES IN NORTHERN PROVINCE The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has started maize purchases in all the districts of Northern Province. The development has excited the farmers in the province. A check in some satellite depots found queues of farmers waiting to be attended to by FRA staff. FRA is buying maize at K85.00 per 50kg bag of maize. Some private buyers were also found buying maize at K75 per 50Kg. The low price being offered by private buyers has prompted most farmers to take their maize to the Food Reserve Agency which is offering a relatively better price. FINANCE MINISTER CALLS FOR REDUCED BANK INTEREST RATES Finance Minister, Honorable Alexandra Chikwanda, has called on commercial banks to reduce interest rates to enable farmers have access to agriculture loans. The minister was speaking during the official opening of an Indo-Zambia Bank branch in Mungwi district on 12 th July, During his speech, the minister expressed delight that banking services were moving to rural areas. WESTERN REGION MAIZE BUYING BY AMATHEON AGRI ON TRACK Amatheon Agri Company has bought a total of 6,800 by 50kg bags of maize in 7 days from the 5 marketing depots they opened in Nkeyema and Kaoma districts. The company has also been paying farmers on time, a development which has excited the farmers in the district. 10

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