LUSAKA, Aug. 12 — Zambia plans to export approximately 501,620.61 metric tons of maize to neighboring countries following a bumper harvest recorded in the 2024/2025 farming season, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday. Chief Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the Cabinet has approved the export of surplus maize or its equivalent quantity in mealie meal to various destinations in the region, in line with the government’s policy of promoting agriculture as a business. He stated that following the production of nearly 3.7 million metric tons of maize during the 2024/2025 farming season, along with a carry-over stock of 385,000 metric tons, Zambia’s total maize stock for the 2025/2026 season stands at 4.04 million metric tons. The 2025/2026 national food balance sheet estimates the country’s total maize grain requirement at 3.5 million metric tons. “However, Cabinet emphasized that national food security should remain a priority to ensure that citizens have adequate food supplies,” Mweetwa said in a statement issued after a Cabinet meeting. Mweetwa, who also serves as minister of information and media, added that the Cabinet stressed the importance of properly storing all maize under the national strategic reserves to prevent wastage.
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