Smallholder farmers must take advantage of maize exports – Kayula

The National Association for Smallholder Farmers (NASFA) has issued a passionate call to small-scale agricultural producers across Zambia, urging them to capitalize on regional maize export openings. Speaking on the current dynamics of agricultural trade, NASFA Executive Director Professor Frank Kayula stressed that smallholder farmers must transition from localized selling to structured produce aggregation if they are to successfully tap into lucrative foreign markets. According to Prof. Kayula, while the government has granted explicit permission for grain exports—citing previous shipments to destinations such as Rwanda—individual farmers frequently face structural bottlenecks that prevent direct participation. The core challenge, Kayula noted, lies within market mechanics and volume requirements. Regional buyers and international grain merchants do not typically engage in fragmented, small-scale purchases. Consequently, unless Zambian smallholder farmers establish robust cooperatives and collective marketing structures, they risk remaining locked out of broader continental trade opportunities. Aggregating produce allows smaller farmers to pool their yields, meet commercial thresholds, and negotiate better pricing structures on cross-border exchanges. This call to action arrives at a critical juncture for Zambia's agricultural sector, which has navigated complex policy shifts regarding grain trading, export bans, and food security management. While the government has calibrated export restrictions in response to domestic consumption needs and climate shocks affecting regional crop yields, open channels to neighboring markets present a vital revenue stream for rural producers. Agricultural experts have frequently highlighted that empowering smallholders through cooperatives is essential to preventing large-scale brokers and well-capitalized traders from monopolizing the export value chain. Furthermore, stakeholders point out that leveraging regional demand requi