The crop forecast survey released today has shown that Zambia will record a significantly reduction in the maize production for the 2013/2014 farming season.
The country maize forecast production has dropped to 2,618,221 metric tons compared to 3,350,671 metric tons recorded in the previous season, representing a reduction of 26.86 percent.
The reduction is in spite of the 5.3 percent increase in hectares of maize planted in the 2014-2015 farming season compared to that of 2013-2014 and the increase in fertilizer usage and high breed maize seed.
The results of this year’s crop survey were announced by Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda this afternoon.
Mr Lubinda has attributed the reduction to poor rainfall.
He said the late onset of the rainy season and prolonged dry spells in some maize producing areas affected yields.
Other crops that have recorded poor production levels include Sorghum which has dropped by 29 percent and rice which also significantly reduced to 48.6 percent including groundnuts which reduced by 22.4 percent.
Cotton production also fell by 13.7 percent including sweet potatoes production which decreased by 21.2 percent.
Mixed beans production also reduced by 18.4 percent and production of Virginia and Barley Tobacco production equally dropped by 24.1 percent
Millet however rose by 4.8 percent including Soya Beans production which grew by 5.7 percent.
Zambia also produced more Irish potatoes in 2014/2015 farming season, up by 35.7 percent including cassava which increased by 3.6 percent.
Mr Lubinda however stated that the food balance sheet for the 2015-2016 marketing season based on the crop forecast survey shows that Zambia produced sufficient maize for both human consumption and industrial use with a carry-over stock of 1,345,401 metric tons.
He also assured that the carry-over maize stock is under safe storage at the Food Reserve Agency adding that the total maize available for the 2015-2016 marketing season is 3,963,622 metric tons forecast and carry-over stock combined.
He said there will be a maize surplus of 876,738 metric tons and that government will maintain the purchase of 500 thousand metric tons for strategic reserves only.
Mr Minister I would hope that as many have claimed that you are a man of intergrity you would have also acknowledged the role your government played in this reduction of harvest. A lot of the farmers where not paid on time and hence they started the planting season late. The effects of the less rain would have been less significant and greatly mitigated if the ffarmers had been paid on time. AS WITH EVERYTHING THE PF GOVERNMENT DOES.
SSSHHHH!
DONCHI KUBEBA!
” BLAME IT ON THE RAIN”
FUEL-O GOES UP! ” BLAME ON THE RAIN”
FUEL-O SHORTAGE” ..THE RAIN”
KWACHA LOSE VALUE ” …THE RAIN”
NO MEDICINE IN HOSPITAL” THE RAIN”
EDUCATION IN SHAMBLES “..THE RAIN”
CONSTRUCTION INGA YA SHUUPA”..THE RAIN”
LOW VOTER TURNOUT! “THE RAIN”
NO CONSTITUTION “THE RAIN”
LUNGU COLLAPSES ATI MOSQUITOES ” THE RAIN”
NOW FARMERS LOW HARVEST ” THE RAIN”
ALA FYONSE ” BLAME IT ON THE RAIN!!!!”
Good Zambia is food secure. This great for mother Zambia. Keep it up farmers.