WASHINGTON: The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) said the government allowed the millers to export the maize bran in order to free up storage space for the new maize crop.
The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) had requested government to allow its members export 15,000 tons of bran, a waste product of maize meal, according to statement posted on the farmers’ body’s website. According to the statement, stakeholders agreed during a meeting held that only 10,000 ton should be exported in order to avoid triggering food insecurity in the livestock sector.
The stakeholders noted that the dry season has just begun and that livestock would find it difficult to access bran due to high demand. “To this effect, ZNFU proposed that millers be allowed to only export 10,000 tons of bran for the last time in 2016 in order to avoid triggering food insecurity in the livestock sector. The meeting subsequently agreed to allow the export of 10,000 tons of bran,” the statement said.