Lusaka - Zambia's maize harvest will fall 21 percent to 2.6 million tons in the current 2014/2015 season versus the previous season, its minister of agriculture said on Friday, adding that the country had some surplus for export.
Given Lubinda said results of a government crop forecasting survey had confirmed the weaker harvest, but the southern African country would still have a surplus of maize carried over from the previous year's harvest of 3.3 million tons.
“From the total expected harvest and carry-over stocks we have a maize surplus of 876 000 tons,” Lubinda told Reuters.
Lubinda had said in April that Zambia may review its plans for the export of maize depending on demand and the outcome of the government crop forecasting survey in May.
Asked if the country would export maize following the release of the survey, Lubinda said Zambia still planned to export the surplus maize to neighbouring countries but could not immediately give any details.
“The 876 000 tons is in excess of our local requirements and all of it is available for export,” Lubinda said.
A recent survey by the Zambia National Farmers' Union (ZNFU) revealed that production of the staple would drop due to a long dry spell and because farmers were unable to buy key inputs such as fertilisers on time.
Southern Africa faces possible food shortages over the next few months due to a severe drought in the 'maize belt' of South Africa, where a lack of rain had caused crop failure rates of over 50 percent, the World Food Programme said.
Reuters