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Maize Production Reduces By 21.86%
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.
Posted by Kunda
on May 14, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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mj banda
May 14, 2015 at 5:20 pm
One of the satanist child will say it’s PF who stopped the rains.
Beautiful Moma
May 14, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Poor rainfall and poor management of the FISP. Mukose bane, mealie meal prices may go up again for the 2015/2016 season.
LOMBE
May 14, 2015 at 5:59 pm
PRODUCTION DEPENDS ON MANAGEMENT AND RAINFAL PARTERN.AND ANYTHING CORNCENING RAINFALL IS EXGERNUS.FISP ALSO CONTRIBUTE THE WAY THE HANDLE INPUTS.
New Educated Zambia©
May 14, 2015 at 6:23 pm
In a country where we know that the rains are not predictable one would have thought that the governments main concern would be to prioritise alternative methods of farming from the traditional ones. Also, the pf is sleeping in terms of alternative crops. We in the upnd will ensure other crops are also given priority and support. Zambia has the capacity to diversify into other specialist crops which are inherent to specific areas based on these areas different soils and weather patterns. Not only will this help our farmers but it will also add variety to monotonous diets which do not give balanced diet. Vote UPND and put agric first!
BIGILA
May 14, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Its like yo neighbor sends his/her child to go and buy a canddle and then as the child is coming the snake bites him/her can u blame the government for not killing all the snakes ? wat l mean is that certain things are natural and it shouldnt take someone to go to school to know wat is natural and wat is man made,so b4 we post anything let be human and
New Educated Zambia©
May 14, 2015 at 9:51 pm
very dull boy. So because earthquakes are natural then we should let nature take its course and not minimise the impacts by putting in place measures to reduce negative effects? please shut all the windows and doors in your tiny room and look in your mirros and whisper to yourself ati “ndine chipuba chikulu.
Trixy
May 15, 2015 at 12:01 pm
KIKIKIKI..NEZ wanisekesa!!
Judge Joe Bidden
May 14, 2015 at 10:49 pm
Man made catastrophes due to mismanagement compounded by climatic effects definitely will ve an impact on crop production but good governance in making sure food security is maintained can help in sustainability of maize supply and maintaining stable market prices PF Govt should not just let weather conditions dictate but making sure that there is enough maize in stock to feed Zambians for at least 2 seasons In case of draught that’s food security.
mo
May 15, 2015 at 8:07 am
better than ma luvd country ati Malawi, no good maize production this year koma ndiye mukhaulaso ma neba
Hello Haters
May 15, 2015 at 11:01 am
Sibweni unfortunately these guys can be so cunning, they will say this an that but what’s pertaining on the ground is totally different, we hope those figures released will be true, issues to do with agriculture to them sounds like NASA SPACE PROGRAMME to a 1 year old, they simply got no clue about agriculture.
Trixy
May 15, 2015 at 12:05 pm
@Hellow haters….true. The more reason we need (not want but need) HH; a farmer, economist, manager, etc in state house!! This child play must come to an end henceforth.