This bumper corn crop of 3.6 million tons is seven percent larger than the 3.4 million tons of corn produced in 2020/21 MY. Over the past 20 years, Zambia more than doubled corn production through a combination of increased area and productivity, turning the country into a net exporter of corn.
How much corn does Zambia export?
As a result, Post estimates that Zambia’s corn exports will be limited to about 700,000 tons and consequently stock levels at the end of the 2021/22 MY will increase by 57 percent to 1.3 million tons. Corn is the single most important crop in Zambia. It is widely grown by smallholder farmers and is the national staple food.
Which province produces the most corn in Zambia?
The Southern province contributed more than 20 percent to the total area of corn planted in Zambia and produced the second largest corn crop at 616,000 tons in the 2021/22 MY. Corn is the single most important crop in Zambia. It is widely grown by smallholder farmers and is the national staple food in the form of a porridge called “nshima.”
Does Zambia export corn to the DRC?
One such market is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 2019, Zambia signed a memorandum of understanding with the DRC to export 600,000 tons of corn to that country annually. The agreement aims to deter informal trade flows and promote formalized corn exports to the DRC.