Zambia records maize bumper harvest, lifts export ban

Stacks of maize at an FRA Holding Deport

Zambia has recorded a maize bumper harvest of over 3,606,549 metric tonnes.

And Government has since lifted the ban on export of maize and maize products.

Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya announced this in Lusaka today when she released crop forecast estimates for 2016-2017 season.

Ms Siliya said the country has also recorded increases in soybeans, cassava, groundnuts and rice.

She explained that maize production has increased by 25 percent, 31 percent in soybeans and 28 percent in groundnuts production.

Ms. Siliya said the country will have a surplus of about 1,178,516 metric tones of maize.

She said the increases in various crop production is as a result of the government’s crop diversification Programme.

Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya said the Food Reserve Agency-FRA- will not buy maize to supply to the millers.

Ms. Siliya said the FRA will only buy 500,000 metric tonnes for the country’s strategic reserves.

She has urged the millers, the Grain Traders Association of Zambia and the private sector to take keen interest in maize marketing this season – ZNBC.