How Will the Proposed Crop Marketing Authority Affect Food Market Performance in Zambia? An ex Ante Assessment to Inform Government Deliberation

Abstract: This policy synthesis highlights some of the key messages contained in the full report with the same title. It aims to summarize the rationale and objectives of the CMA and the possible consequences of adopting the proposed legislation. We also identify alternative or additional measures that the government could take to overcome constraints in crop marketing.food security, food policy, Zambia, crop marketing, Marketing, Q18,

How Will the Proposed Crop Marketing Authority Affect Food Market Performance in Zambia: An Ex Ante Assessment to Guide Government Deliberation

This paper aims to summarize the rationale and objectives of the Crop Marketing Authority and the possible consequences of adopting the proposed legislation. We also identify where the proposal, in its current form, requires additional specificity in order to evaluate its ability to meet Government’s objectives of enhancing food security and sustainable crop marketing.food security, food policy, crop marketing authority, Zambia, Marketing, Q18,

Marketing Policy Options for Consumer Price Mitigation Actions in the 2008/09 Maize Marketing Season in Zambia.

1) Maize prices are rising rapidly in 2008 and are fast approaching import parity levels. 2) Maize traders, millers and farmers all agree that Zambia will likely require imports by early 2009 in order to avoid domestic maize supply shortages. 3) Official food balance sheets appear to have underestimated the demand for maize this year. They may also have slightly overestimated the size of the 2007/08 maize crop. Hence the slow government recognition of the need for maize imports. 4) As of late September 2008, neither the Government of Zambia (GRZ) nor the private sector have arranged to import maize from South Africa. Trade sources suggest informal imports from Tanzania are helping to relieve the likely shortfall. 5) Zambian policy makers face a delicate balancing act: they need to maintain remunerative prices for farmers, in order to stimulate maize supply response during the coming 2008/09 production season, while at the same time moderating maize meal price increases to protect urban consumers and the many rural households who are net buyers of maize. 6) The time to respond to this balancing act challenge is now rather than later in the marketing season when costs of supplies and transport will increase. 7) Several policy actions offer potential win/win options for balancing these twin concerns:food security, food policy, Zambia, maize, marketing, Crop Production/Industries, Q20,

Zambia's 2005 Maize Import and Marketing Experiences: Lessons and Implications

This paper shows how government actions can affect the performance of the maize marketing system and influence the severity of food crises. Examples from the 2005/06 marketing season are used to illustrate how Zambia’s food security situation can be improved through closer consultation, transparency and predictability between government and the private sector. The paper also identifies longer-run options for strengthening the ability of local and regional markets to ensure household and national food security in the face of maize production instability.food security, food policy, Zambia, maize, Crop Production/Industries, Q18,

Raising the Productivity of Public Investments in Zambia’s Agricultural Sector.

Agriculture provides the main support for Zambia’s rural economy, and because of this, growth in the agricultural sector is the clearest avenue through which poverty reduction can be achieved in Zambia. Yet despite widespread recognition of the strong connection between agricultural development and poverty reduction, there is continuing under-provision of public goods investments for over a decade. Zambia’s primary policy objective of achieving accelerated growth and competitiveness in the agricultural sector cannot be achieved unless adequate public resources are committed towards catalyzing the desired growth. Strong evidence from southern Africa as well as throughout the world indicates that long–term public investment in research and development, extension services, rural infrastructure, and food safety and quality systems have high pay-offs and are among the most important drivers of agricultural growth and competitiveness. Agricultural-led development has been identified by African Heads of State and Governments as key to restoration of food security and rural development on our continent. Under the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) framework, Zambia, like many other members of the union, has targeted to achieve a minimum of 6% annual agricultural growth by making available 10% of the national budget towards the sector. In Zambia, it is important not only to increase the resource allocation to the sector in accordance with the CAADP target of 10%, but to allocate these resources productively so as to make the maximum contribution to sustainable growth within the shortest possible time. This paper examines trends in Zambia’s public budgeting for agriculture and the composition of the budget. This report does not cover tax expenditures by the government, private sector expenditures, and support from donors. Support from development partners channeled through government programs is included in the report. The report covers approved budget allocations and compares approved expenditures with actual expenditures

How Will the Proposed Crop Marketing Authority Affect Food Market Performance in Zambia? An ex Ante Assessment to Inform Government Deliberation”. Policy Synthesis No. 8. Food Security Research Project

The Food Security Research Project is a collaboration between the Agricultural Consultative Forum (ACF), the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF), and Michigan State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics (MSU). We wish to acknowledge the financial and substantive support of the United States Agenc

Levies on Agricultural Commodities: Who Benefits? A Rapid Assessment

This report provides an initial assessment of the impact of agricultural commodity taxes levied by local district authorities on the national objectives of food security, poverty alleviation and economic growth. A study was undertaken to provide government with a better understanding of the effects of the grain levy on the national policy objectives of promoting food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth in Zambia

Levies on Agricultural Commodities: Who Benefits? A Rapid Assessment

This report provides an initial assessment of the impact of agricultural commodity taxes levied by local district authorities on the national objectives of food security, poverty alleviation and economic growth. A study was undertaken to provide government with a better understanding of the effects of the grain levy on the national policy objectives of promoting food security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth in Zambia.food security, food policy, agricultural commodity taxes, Zambia, Agricultural and Food Policy, Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty, Q18,

How Will the Proposed Crop Marketing Authority Affect Food Market Performance in Zambia: An Ex Ante Assessment to Guide Government Deliberation

This paper aims to summarize the rationale and objectives of the Crop Marketing Authority and the possible consequences of adopting the proposed legislation. We also identify where the proposal, in its current form, requires additional specificity in order to evaluate its ability to meet Government’s objectives of enhancing food security and sustainable crop marketing