PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S UNFULFILLED PROMISE OF A MAIZE FLOOR PRICE
Two weeks ago at a rally in Choma, President Hakainde Hichilema announced his directive for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to set a floor price for maize, intended to stabilize the market and protect farmers.
Yesterday, he reiterated the same promise in Eastern Province.
Yet, despite these public declarations, the much-anticipated announcement remains conspicuously absent.
The failure to actualize this commitment is not merely a bureaucratic delay; close sources suggest that the President’s proclamations may be a strategic maneuver to appease public opinion without incurring the financial consequences that a floor price implementation would entail.
Setting a floor price inevitably requires the government to inject substantial funds into FRA, drawing from the treasury, a move that risks depreciating the Kwacha.
It appears President Hichilema prioritizes maintaining the illusion of a stable currency over addressing the immediate needs of maize farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
This hesitation undermines the very purpose of a floor price: to protect farmers from volatile market prices and guarantee a minimum income.
Without a clear floor price, farmers remain vulnerable to market fluctuations and exploitation by middlemen, which has long-term implications for food security and rural livelihoods.
The government’s reticence signals a disconnect between political rhetoric and economic realities on the ground.
President Hichilema’s reluctance to follow through damages trust among farmers.
PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S UNFULFILLED PROMISE OF A MAIZE FLOOR PRICE
