Maravi

No maize bumper harvest this farming season, says Chenda

No maize bumper harvest this farming season, says Chenda
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Thu 12 Jan. 2012, 13:50 CAT

THE country will not produce a maize bumper harvest this farming season, says agriculture minister Emmanuel Chenda, but assured that the drop in grain output will not necessitate importation.

Last season, the country harvested over three million tonnes of maize, its life-blood crop, up from 2.8 million tonnes the previous season, resulting in a surplus of 1.6 million tonnes.

The record maize output had been attributed to a strong government subsidy programme that provides fertilizer and seeds to peasants and new farming methods aimed at boosting yields, while good rains had been key.

Chenda said the poor rainfall pattern during the current farming season dampened hopes of another record maize output.

He said the dry start to the current rainy season had hit some maize growing regions of Southern, Eastern, Central and far-flung areas of Lusaka province.

"My own assessment is that yes, we have a problem but it's too early for us to determine whether this is an issue which is drastic and may require external intervention," Chenda said in an interview.

"We will be able to have sufficient maize for our own use, what perhaps, would be said, we will not have the bumper harvest we had if this rainfall pattern prolongs, but we will be food secure in country."

He explained that the poor start to the rainy season, coupled with the prolonged partial droughts, hurt geminating seeds, resulting in some small-scale farmers replanting early maturing maize late.

"Some people were forced to re-plant as a late as 31st December or early January," he said.

"Under the FISP Farmer Input Support Programme, we do not give early maturity seeds, and so, meaning that if there are some farmers who got the seed under FISP and they are planting in December, or early January, we have to pray that the rains are prolonged."

Chenda said the PF government was increasing the strategic storage reserves from 300,000 metric tonnes to 600,000 metric tonnes in view of the current unfavourable rainfall patterns.

Zambia currently consumes 80,000 metric tonnes of maize, and according to Chenda, the country had in reserves maize for seven months cover.

Chenda, who said there was need to improve extension services to ensure farmers planted to the correct seed variety, said a deficit in maize was going to disturb macroeconomic fundamentals in the country, and also cause inflationary pressure owing to an increased demand for food.

"We have to ensure that the maize we have is properly stored and fumigated, properly secured. That is the direction we are pushing," he said.

"We want people in the rural areas to have at least their own food so that we do not begin to fight for the same food that is reserved for the people in town. That will push the demand because the food reserves we have are for the people in urban areas."

Chenda, however, said the government was not considering suspending maize exports as the country needed to clear backlog stocks from successive bumper harvests which strained the limited storage capacity.

Labels: MAIZE, RAINFALL

posted by MrK @ 7:05 PM