NUSFAZ SAYS ILLEGAL SALE OF MAIZE WITH HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONTAMINATION OF THE COMMODITY AND IT’S BY PRODUCTS
The National Union for Small Scale Farmers In Zambia-NUSFAZ- says the illicit sale of maize with high moisture content caused by high demand against low production of the commodity, may have contributed significantly to the challenge of aflatoxin contaminated products on the Zambian market.
Union Executive Director Ebony Lolozhi says the significantly low yields from the previous farming season, saw numerous brief case buyers accessing maize with high moisture content from farmers as demand for the grain continues to grow.
Mr. Lolozhi has told Phoenix News that the importation of maize from other countries may have also contributed while farmers were enticed to sell maize fields and maize that was not yet ready for sale due to high demand.
He says while authorized market players follow various standards including buying maize with a moisture content of below 13 percent, and avoid discoloured or maize with particles, briefcase buyers are more interested in securing the grain at all costs and may not necessarily adhere to these guidelines.
Mr. Lolozhi says there is a need for small scale farmers to sell their produce to authorized sector players to ensure that the grain is in the right state for onward consumption through various products such as feed and mealie meal.
PN
Again this highlights how porous our law enforcement system is.When govt and specifically FRA says buying of produce starts after reaching a certain grain moisture content ,the law must provide for punitive measures for brief case buyers who don’t abide by this regulation.There is a reason why crops must be sold at a certain species time to protect consumers. If FRA cannot buy because of safety precautions why should brief case buyers buy the produce ?FRA has been very consistent with this regulation…having worked there I know for sure .
Again this highlights how porous our law enforcement system is.When govt and specifically FRA says buying of produce starts after reaching a certain grain moisture content ,the law must provide for punitive measures for brief case buyers who don’t abide by this regulation.There is a reason why crops must be sold at a certain species time to protect consumers. If FRA cannot buy because of safety precautions why should brief case buyers buy the produce ?FRA has been very consistent with this regulation…having worked there I know for sure .Ministry of Agriculture must do something to make sure protocols are observed by all stakeholders involved in buying farm produce.
Very very correct observation by Mr Loloji regarding Aflatoxin. I wondered why this time. True low yield of the commodity coupled with high demand small scale opted for big cashing from briefcase buyers without considering moisture content in the grain and sold to the millers in other ways millers themselves sources maize grain from small scale farmers to keep production of the commodity on course and in supply. Result Aflatoxin build up contamination during bulk storage.
You are more than right Sir, but it’s unfortunate that some fools are playing cheap politics through their propaganda trying to portray that the Aflatoxin was actually added to the mealie meal when it was not. Aflatoxin can occur anywhere, places like hotels, restaurants including homes, as long as the storage is poor. Then as you have rightly put it, selling or buying the maize with high moisture content can greatly contribute to the same.