January 11, 2011

Zambia seeks to export 348,000 tonnes corn to Africa

Zambia is eyeing to export at least 348,000 tonnes of corn to Zimbabwe, Namibia and Congo this year after a bumper harvest recorded last year, local news stated Monday (Jan 10).

The minister of agriculture and co-operatives, Eustarckio Kazonga, said the surplus corn would be exported in phases once the tendering process has been completed.

"We recorded a bumper harvest in 2010 meaning we have a surplus. Therefore, we will first export 348,000 tonnes to Zimbabwe, Namibia and DRC [Congo] markets under phase one," he said.

Corn is staple food for Zambia's estimated 12 million people and a major determinant of the country's inflation rates, upon which miners have been basing wage demands from copper mining companies.