October 14, 2013

 

 

With over 80,000 tonnes already exported to Tanzania and Zimbabwe, Zambia has continued to receive corn export orders from neighbouring countries.

 

Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and World Food Programme (WFP) have expressed interest in importing corn from Zambia, which produced over 2.53 million in 2012-13.

 

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Robert Sichinga said over 14,000 tonnes have been exported to Zimbabwe, which requires 150,000 tonnes of corn while 60,000 tonnes were distributed to Tanzania.

 

"We also had a requirement from Malawi with 130,000 tonnes, which we expect to export in December. WFP had a requirement of 100,000 tonnes as well," he said.

 

Burundi has requested 40,000 tonnes while the requirement for DRC, which he did not disclose, has also been exported.

 

Zambia is exporting the commodity as there is need to clear stocks produced last year and creates space for this year's new crop.

 

"Instead of exporting individually, we would not know how much has gone outside the country. In order for us not to prejudice our own food security, we only needed to export the excess that we did not need," Sichinga said.

 

He said the country is currently consuming a monthly allocation of about 100,000 tonnes (1.2 million tonnes annually).

 

"In the situation where we have produced corn, we want to make sure that what is purchased by various firms that are producing mealie-meal together with strategic stock at least we have 1.2 million tonne plus 500,000 tonnes of corn which is a fall-back," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Government has so far purchased 417,000 tonnes through the Food Reserve Agency out of the 500,000 tonnes earmarked for the programme.

 

He said Government will soon complete buying the remaining quantity.