Cabinet directs defense forces to step up maize production

By Sharon Siame

Cabinet has directed Defense Forces to step up maize production in farming blocks in the Northern part of the country to ensure food security.

Chief Government Spokesperson CORNELIUS MWEETWA says President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA has also directed that the Ministry of Agriculture expands the number of commercial farmers contracted to grow maize and that these should be paid a reasonable amount in order
to sustain production.

Mr. MWEETWA says the Food Reserve Agency -FRA- has already contracted 41 out of 57 commercial farmers who expressed interest to go into contractual production of maize.

He says the commercial farmers are expected to produce 145,000 metric tons of maize which they will begin to supply to FRA by March, 2025.

Mr. MWEETWA says the decisions were made in the last Cabinet meeting due to the prevailing uncertain weather conditions, which is a source of concern to Government.

Speaking to the media in Lusaka today, Mr. MWEETWA said that Cabinet has noted the continued dry spell in the country and that fields are beginning to wilt.

He said that the country is expected to experience another dry spell in February, 2025 and that this will likely affect the next harvest.

Mr. MWEETWA said Cabinet also resolved that the state of national disaster remains in force until the situation improves.

And Mr. MWEETWA said that 67,000 metric tons of maize out of the 1 hundred and 95 thousand metric tons purchased from Tanzania has been received so far and distributed.

He said the remaining maize is still in Tanzania and is being transported by Zambian transporters and TAZARA.

Mr. MWEETWA said FRA currently has 363,000 metric tons of maize and that the private sector has 750,000 metric tons of maize.