Ministry of Agriculture has dismissed reports that Zambia has signed a maize export agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), stating that discussions are still ongoing.
In a press statement, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Engineer Peter Kapala, said no official agreement has been reached between the two countries regarding the export of maize or mealie meal.
“The Government has not signed any Memorandum of Understanding with the Democratic Republic of Congo for the export of maize or mealie meal,” said Eng. Kapala.
He explained that while Zambia has received requests from the DRC and other neighboring countries to export maize, no commitments have been made so far.
“Government has received enquiries for maize exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo and other neighboring countries, and negotiations are still ongoing,” he said.
Eng. Kapala also revealed that Zambia has achieved a bumper harvest in the 2023 2024 farming season, with a record production of 3,655,646 metric tons of maize and a carryover stock of 384,999 metric tons from the previous season.
He disclosed that Zambia’s national maize requirement for human consumption, industrial use, and strategic reserves stands at 3,539,024 metric tons.
“Therefore, the country has a projected surplus of 501,621 metric tons,” the minister added.
Eng. Kapala said the government may consider exporting some of the surplus maize, but only after national reserves are secured.
“The country may consider exporting the surplus maize in the form of mealie meal and other value-added products once the Food Reserve Agency meets the required tonnage for the country’s strategic reserves,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the ministry also confirmed the opening of satellite depots in areas where the maize moisture content has reached acceptable levels.
“We are opening satellite depots in areas where the moisture content has reached the required 12.5 percent,” said Eng. Kapala.