Minister of Agriculture Mtolo Phiri has announced that Zambia has a net Maize deficit of over 2 Million Metric tonnes.
Mr. Phiri says the deficit emanates from the decreased production in the 2023 – 2024 marketing season induced by the drought.
Speaking in a ministerial statement in the National Assembly today, Mr. Phiri said that the maize harvest for this year is projected at 1.5 million metric tonnes, compared to the 3.2 million metric tonnes recorded in the 2022 – 2023 marketing season.
“ The country is also expected to record harvest reduction in rice, sorghum, wheat and cassava all affected by the drought,” said Mr. Phiri.
He said that the reduction in Maize is not peculiar to Zambia, saying that all neighboring countries in the region have been affected apart from Tanzania where government seeks to import maize.
By Angel Kasabo
