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Zambia VP calls for halt in maize exports

Xinhua, April 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina on Thursday cautioned a government agency responsible for maize storage against exports of the country's staple crop in view of the anticipated poor harvest this year caused by droughts.

Zambia is expected to record a drop in maize production due to poor rains that have affected some parts of the country, especially the southern part of the country which is a major producer of cereal.

The Zambian vice-president told reporters at a press briefing that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) should be caution on maize exports in view of the hunger situation that may affect some certain parts of the country due to poor harvests.

She has since asked the agency to secure the maize in its strategic reserves instead of exporting it.

The Zambian vice-president, whose office handles disasters in the country, said she held a meeting with responsible ministries on the situation and preliminary indications were that some parts of the country may be hit by hunger hence the need to be cautious on exports.

Maize fields in parts of southern and western Zambia have wilted due to prolonged moisture deficit, she added.

Some parts of the country have already been affected by maize shortages and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), has so far mobilized 50,000 tons of the cereal to be dispatched to affected districts, especially in western Zambia.

The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), an organization for farmers, has warned that maize production is this year expected to drop due to dry spells experienced midway into the rain season in most parts of the southern African nation.

While indicating that the organization was yet to conduct a detailed crop forecast, Kingsley Kaswende, the organization's spokesperson said a preliminary assessment indicates a crop failure.

Last year, Zambia produced 3.3 million tons of maize, a situation that resulted in the country having a surplus of 1.1 million tons, prompting the government to allow for exports of the cereal. Endi