Zambia projects increase in 2016 maize production

Zambia will record an increase in maize production this year, a crop forecast survey released on Wednesday showed.

The 2015/2016 forecast survey has shown that the country will have a maize output of 2,873,052 tons, an increase of 9.73 percent from the 2,618,221 tons produced during the 2014/2015 season.

Minister of Agriculture Given Lubinda, who released the figures in a ministerial statement issued in parliament, said the figures show that the country has produced sufficient food for both human consumption and industrial use.

The country also has a maize carry-over stock amounting to 667.524 tons as of May 1, 2016, he added.

"When the maize carry-over stock from last season is added to the maize production for the 2015/2016 agricultural season, the total supply of maize available for the 2016/2017 marketing season is 3,540,577 tons," he said.

"For the current population, the food balance sheet shows that the total maize required for human consumption, industrial use and other commitments amounts to 2,887,810 tons," he added.

He said with the figures revealed, the country was food secure as it now has recorded a maize surplus of 634,681 tons.

The forecast survey has also revealed that the national average yield rate for maize had also increased to 2.10 tons per hectare from 1.75 tons last season, representing an increase of 20.14 percent. Endit