Off the wire
• Chinese shares close higher Tuesday  • Russia lifts ban on imports of Egyptian fruits, vegetables  • Australia's Capilano to penetrate Chinese market with new prebiotic honey product  • Spotlight: Peace at last in Colombia as five decades of war ends  • FLASH: ROAD ACCIDENT KILLS AT LEAST 13 IN CENTRAL NEPAL  • Tokyo stocks close higher as U.S. presidential debate lifts dollar  • Zambia ruling party scoffs at opposition party decision to seek ICC intervention  • Japan to relax visa regulations for Chinese visitors from Oct. 17  • Bhutanese top legislator proposes parliament-to-parliament cooperation with Cambodia  • Olympic champion race walker Wang Zhen eyes another gold medal at Tokyo 2020  
You are here: 　 Home

Zambian president calls for strict enforcement of maize export ban

Xinhua, September 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambian President Edgar Lungu Monday directed the agriculture ministry to ensure the maize export ban is strictly enforced to ensure domestic food security.

In April this year, the government banned the export of maize and maize products to neighboring countries to ensure food security following a high demand of the commodity due to poor harvests caused by droughts.

In a statement released by his office, Lungu has tasked his new agriculture minister with ensuring that national food security is a top priority.

"In this regard, the president has directed the minister to ensure that the maize export ban currently in force is strictly enforced," the statement said.

There have been reports that Zambia was under pressure from neighboring countries following its bumper harvest of maize in the 2015/2016 season and traders want to take advantage of the lucrative market.

The government has put security agencies at strategic border entries to curb the rampant smuggling of maize to neighboring countries where there is a lucrative market.

Zambia produced 2.8 million tons of maize during the 2015/2016 season despite the El Nino weather phenomenon, which affected large swathes of the southern African region. Endi