Zambia corn production to surge

With an upsurge in planted area, Zambia’s corn production is expected to increase 23% to 3.3 million tonnes in 2023-24, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The number of small and medium-scale farming households that planted crops increased by 44%, FAS said.

Corn is the single most important crop in Zambia and is the national staple food in the form of a porridge called “nshima.” Corn provides about 60% of the caloric requirements of Zambia’s population.

Corn demand for human consumption is estimated at 2.1 million tonnes with industrial requirements at 150,000 tonnes and animal feed at 315,000 tonnes.

Zambia will have 400,000 tonnes of corn available for export in 2023-24 based on higher production and after making provisions for 500,000 tonnes of corn stocks.

The country exported 1.1 million tonnes of corn in 2022-23 on record carry-over stocks and higher demand from East Africa and neighboring countries.

Tags: nshima, corn, export, crops, Production, planted area, consumption, demand, Zambia