May 18, 2009
Zambia 2008-09 corn output up 31 percent on-year; to lift ban
Zambia's 2008-09 (May-April) corn output is expected to increase by 31 percent on year to 1,888,773 tonne due to favourable weather conditions, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Brian Chituwo has said.
Chituwo said in a statement Zambia is expected to record a surplus of up to 203,271 tonnes of corn this season and the government would consider lifting the export ban on the commodity, imposed last year due to a poor harvest.
The harvest for the 2008-09 crop started in March this year and marketing activities are expected to run till early next year.
Chituwa said the government will procure up to 110,000 tonnes of corn for its strategic food reserves, while corn requirements for industrial use are estimated at 200,000 tonnes. Total corn requirement for Zambia's 12.9 million people is estimated at 1,263,098 tonnes this year, the reminder will be exported to regional markets.
