It’s a Bumper Harvest!
LUSAKA –Zambia is set to record one of its most impressive agricultural seasons in recent years, with a projected bumper harvest of 3.7 million tonnes of maize. This forecast includes a surplus of over 501,000 tonnes, far exceeding the nation’s food security threshold and paving the way for potential exports.
Minister Sylvia Masebo said the bumper harvest reflects the success of well-coordinated input distribution and improved climate conditions. She credited government-led interventions, including the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), for enabling smallholder farmers to plant early and efficiently.
“This yield is not just a product of rainfall; it’s a result of policy alignment and farmer commitment,” she said. The expected surplus may lead to a further reduction in mealie meal prices, a key staple for millions of Zambians.
The Ministry has already initiated assessments on which regions will contribute most to the export window. “We’re looking at opportunities across COMESA and SADC to distribute our excess maize without compromising national reserves,” Masebo added.
Stakeholders in the food industry have welcomed the development, calling it a timely buffer against global food supply shocks. The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) urged government to secure storage and market linkages for the projected output to avoid post-harvest losses.
This comes at a critical time when inflationary pressure on food has eased slightly due to declining commodity prices. Analysts predict this harvest could also stabilize the kwacha due to a reduced import bill for food and increased foreign exchange from exports.
This is wonderful news.
…but let’s also see other metrics (such as amalaiti, infrastructure, water reticulation and sanitation, etc) trending north. We need to see improved management in all spheres of human endeavor.
We will not be getting bumper harvest every year.so let’s forget about export for now. Let’s
Find ways of storage.lets now focus on load
Shedding.
Whilst it is certainly good news !!!! my question is can it be believed ?? we have been told so many half truths in the past by all, we at a stage where we dont really know fact from friction , with the Elections coming up these statements will be daily occurrences ??
You’re free to believe in whatever you want to believe.
TOO TRUE !! No one can be blamed for being skeptical look at our past track record
Why is the minister of lands telling us about this? But also, let’s put the brakes on exports please. Don’t we learn?