The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation says good weather conditions in Zambia have contributed to maize production which is forecast at approximately 3 million tonnes.
In a report, FAO says despite a slightly delayed start of seasonal rains, cumulative precipitation between November 2016 and April 2017 was above-average in the main maize-producing Central, Eastern and Southern provinces, which combined, contribute to approximately 60 percent to the national output.
It said, as a result, vegetation conditions in cropped areas, just prior to the harvest period, show an improvement compared to the previous year, indicating a likely increase in yields and the area harvested.
FAO said an infestation of the invasive fall army worm, which was first detected in late 2016, reportedly affected just under 200 000 hectares of cropped land.
It also noted that control operations by the Government contained the outbreak.
The UN agency however said that in the infested areas, production is expected to be negatively affected although the impact at the national level is anticipated to be only minimal.
It said additionally, a red locust outbreak was also reported in more localized areas, but that the damage is not expected to be significant.
And FAO says the Maize supply situation is forecast to improve in 2017/18 on account of an anticipated bumper output.
It said this may result in increased export opportunities but that as neighbouring countries, notably Malawi and Zimbabwe, are also forecast to harvest bumper maize crops, export destinations may need to be sought outside of the sub region.
FAO said food security conditions are anticipated to improve in 2017/18, mostly owing to an expected increase in the agricultural output.
“However, farming households affected by the outbreaks of red locusts and the fall army worm may experience more stressed food security conditions as the pests had likely dampened production,” it said.
DRC has good weather through out the year to grow Maize and yet they keep coming to steal our maize.
Give credit where it is due. This Bumper harvest is due to the Agriculture Policy put in place by the Great MMD party of yesteryear to subsidize peasant farmers, a move roundly condemned by UN, World Bank and IMF.
This policy has been continued under PF Government and it is the same policy that has continued to deliver bumper harvest after bumper harvest.
It is just not the weather. UN. IMF and World Bank learn to give credit where it is due.
Ati “the main maize-producing Central, Eastern and Southern provinces”………..kikikikikikiki………leaving out Northern province which tops the list? Like others are saying, the writer doesn’t know what he/she is talking about. Give credit where it is due, it’s not only the good weather conditions but government policies too.
So its not Dora responsible for bumper harvest? Close that FAO in Zambia.
@MMD Chief Bootlicker,
LOL – Are you serious? So, according to you, UN should NOT eliminate common denominators in an equation and focus on the cause-and-effect statistics? You are not good at rational thinking are you? Anyway, your name speaks volumes.
@ Brabus….You dont continue kicking a man who is down already…MMD Chief Bootlicker is down, and will never stand up..Game over…kikikiki
It is purely because of the great leadership as portrayed by ECL and the pf govt.
Am in South Africa and still hangover from Friday.
How is GBM?? Still seeking asylum??
@NEZ, kikiki you drunk the bottle meant for Almighty Edgar? will you make it in time to witness judgement of the great One HH?
He has been acquitted! The traffic offense fail off, insults case acquitted.
treason case will surely fall. Proverbs 12 vs 22.
Acquitted or not, hh is a political bufoon!!! Never has Zambia seen such political childishness. That’s why come 2021, it’s DUNUNA AGAIN with one Chagwa Lungu!!! Come 2021 its 6.5 vs. 3.5!!!!
This is good God weather.
We thank God for a good government that put in policies to take advantsge of the good weather He gave us. What do UPND say?
If their allies, army worms and locusts had won, they would be blaming Dora and Lungu. Now they have tails between their legs, nothing to say.
Insoni!
What type of thinking is this? For once let the UN say hard working and strategic Zambians have done it. Kinship weather ilalima nayo. Remember we even had army worms. Give credit where it is due. Above all recognize the role of prayers.
“FAO said an infestation of the invasive fall army worm, which was first detected in late 2016, reportedly affected just under 200 000 hectares of cropped land.
It also noted that control operations by the Government contained the outbreak.”
JOB WELL DONE PF GOVERNMENT
so bad weather with peoples commitment can also yield a bumper harvest, ba FAILO???????????
See Zambia is blessed. The plan to infest our Agricultural lands with HH’s Army Worms has failed! Love Trumps Hate! Let’s celebrate our quick acting government.
I propose, we all impose a ban on local consumption of Maize Meal. Let’s export the stuff this harvest season! More seriously, I call upon the church to celebrate our Harvest this year because we have been favoured by the Hand of God Almighty. We have been spared the devastating effects of infestations. By the way, we should also harvest those Red Locusts. I am sure they are edible, just some garlic, chillie and deep roasted, Dry Fried (healthy), or for a treat, deep fried only for one meal.
@ Patriot Abroad whose real name is -> Mrs Rosemary Nyendwa,
You deliberately say a false and hurtful thing about another person:- … “The plan to infest our Agricultural lands with HH’s Army Worms has failed!”…. and then you go on to mention the name of God:- … “we have been favoured by the Hand of God Almighty”… Have you no shame? What sort of a God fearing person mocks the Almighty God like this? Ala fimo muletala mwatontonkanya.
FAO good weather alone can not produce bumper harvest but with combination of factors such as input products, government policy especially that there was infestation of army worms and red locust. FAO should give credit to the GRZ for good agriculture policy. PERIOD. If there was poor harvest you were going to blame the government
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