January 30, 2012

Zambia exports US$32.4 million of corn to neighbouring countries

An official with the country's Food Reserve Agency (FRA) said on Tuesday (Jan 24) that Zambia has exported 379,000 tonnes of corn to neighbouring countries amounting to US$32.4 million.

The corn was exported between November 2011 and January 2012.

FRA Public Relations Officer Mwamba Siame said that the corn was exported to Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia and Burundi.

The official added that other countries include Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Madagascar and Botswana.

Zambia recorded bumper harvests of corn -- its staple crop in the last two seasons, resulting in the country having a corn surplus. During the 2009/10 agricultural season, the country produced 2.8 million tonnes of corn and this increased to 3.2 million tonnes during the 2010/11 season.