Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The 2014/2015 Agriculture season Crop Forecast Survey has indicated that maize production will decrease to 2, 618, 221 metric tonnes from 3, 350, 671 metric tonnes recorded during the 2013/2014 farming season, a reduction of 21.86 percent.
And government has announced that it will purchase 500, 000 metric tonnes of maize from farmers through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda says the national food balance sheet for the 2015/2016 marketing season based on the crop forecasting survey shows that the country has produced sufficient maize for both human consumption and industrial use.
Mr. Lubinda says the country also has a maize carryover stock amounting to 1, 345, 401 metric tonnes and that most of the maize is under safe storage with FRA, private traders and commercial farmers.
He explains that when the maize carryover stock from last season is added to the production for the 2014/2015 agricultural season, the total supply of maize available for the 2015/2016 marketing season comes to 3, 963,622 metric tonnes.
Mr. Lubinda says for an estimated population of 15.7 million people, the food balance sheet shows that total maize required for human consumption, industrial use and other commitments amounts to about 3, 086, 854 metric tonnes.
The agriculture Minister has however encouraged the private sector to continue to fully participate in the crop marketing both locally and internationally.