LUSAKA, April 23– The Zambian government said on Monday that it will commence the importation of maize by the end of April.
Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo Phiri was quoted by the state-run Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation as saying that the government plans to import about 650,000 metric tons of maize, adding that discussions have already been held with potential suppliers and that they are just waiting for import agreements to be finalized.
He said the maize is most likely to be sourced from South Africa and some countries in East Africa, and the private sector has also been allowed to import maize as long as it is not genetically modified.
According to him, the maize will be handed over to the Food Reserve Agency, a government agency that holds maize in reserve, as part of the response to the effects of the drought that has threatened food security.
He, however, said the government will not restrict the amount of maize to be imported by the private sector.
The ministry has since placed advertisements in local media encouraging people to import both non-genetically modified white and yellow maize.
In February, the government declared a state of national disaster and emergency due to the drought that has affected the 2023/2024 farming season.
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