Zambia’s Cabinet has approved the export of 501,620 metric tonnes of surplus maize and mealie meal, following a bumper harvest of 3.7 million tonnes. With domestic needs pegged at 3.5 million tonnes, the surplus is being leveraged to:
• Boost foreign exchange earnings
• Stabilize the kwacha
• Create export opportunities for smallholder farmers
The government is partnering with transporters and millers to ensure efficient logistics. Regional markets in drought-affected southern Africa are eager buyers, and bilateral agreements are being explored to ensure reciprocal trade benefits.
Critics warn of potential urban food insecurity, but the Food Reserve Agency has confirmed adequate stocks. The policy is part of a broader strategy to shift Zambia’s agriculture from subsistence to commercial scale, with maize as a flagship export commodity.