March 25, 2009

Zambia's 2009 corn output is likely to be affected by an unusually heavy rainy season which has caused extensive flooding in up to 15 of the country's major corn producing districts, an industry official said Tuesday (March 24).

Ndambo Ndambo, the executive director of the Zambia National Farmers Union, said the floods have destroyed crops across the country but the worst affected regions are the Western, Northwestern, Southern and Lusaka provinces.

Data from Zambia's Ministry of Finance and Planning show Zambia produced 1.2 million tonnes of corn last year, down from the 1.4 million tonnes a year earlier, and that was partly due to flooding.

The lower production led to a corn shortage and Zambia had to import up to 100,000 tonnes of corn by February to bridge the deficit. The main 2009 corn harvest is expected to start in May.