Having produced its largest corn crop on record this year at 3.6 million tonnes, Zambia will have 1.5 million tonnes available for export in 2021-22, according to a Global Agricultural Network report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The report noted, however, that regional demand for corn is weaker than usual as most countries in southern Africa produced above-average crops in 2021. South Africa, for instance, produced its second-largest corn crop ever and Zimbabwe produced its largest crop since 1984. The USDA estimates that Zambia’s corn exports will be limited to about 700,000 tonnes and “consequently stock levels at the end of the 2021-22 marketing year will increase by 57% to 1.3 million tonnes.”
Corn is the most important crop in Zambia. It is widely grown by smallholder farmers, is the national staple food, and is used widely in the animal feed sector. In Zambia, the cultivation of genetically engineered corn is prohibited. Almost all of the corn planted in Zambia is white corn. It is estimated that Zambia requires around 280,000 tonnes of corn for animal feed for the poultry and livestock industries.
Favourable weather conditions
Over the last 20 years Zambia has more than doubled corn production through a combination of increased area and productivity, turning the country into a net exporter of corn, the USDA report noted. Zambia’s bumper corn crop is attributed to favourable weather conditions and the successful early deliveries of farming inputs under the government’s Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) programme, which supplies subsidised seed and fertiliser to smallholder farmers to increase efficiencies and food security.
Corn is the most important crop in Zambia. It is widely grown by smallholder farmers, is the national staple food, and is used widely in the animal feed sector. In Zambia, the cultivation of genetically engineered corn is prohibited. Almost all of the corn planted in Zambia is white corn. It is estimated that Zambia requires around 280,000 tonnes of corn for animal feed for the poultry and livestock industries.
Over the last 20 years Zambia has more than doubled corn production through a combination of increased area and productivity, turning the country into a net exporter of corn, the USDA report noted. Zambia’s bumper corn crop is attributed to favourable weather conditions and the successful early deliveries of farming inputs under the government’s Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) programme, which supplies subsidised seed and fertiliser to smallholder farmers to increase efficiencies and food security.
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