Zambia running out of space to store maize

Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

Published Mar 6, 2017

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Johannesburg - Zambia, the only southern African

country to produce a corn surplus last year, may run out of storage space if a

ban on exporting the grain isn’t lifted, according to local traders.

The country will probably reap 3 million metric tons of

its staple corn crop in the current season, according to the Grain Traders

Association of Zambia. When that’s added to carry-over stocks remaining from

last season, it’s unlikely the nation’s storage facilities will be sufficient,

association President Chambuleni Simwinga said by phone on Friday.

“We’re still sitting on an excess of about 230 000 tons

which has not moved or been traded,” Simwinga said.

Last year, Zambia produced 2.87 million tons of

corn, which is ground and cooked with water to make a thick porridge, known as

nshima, that’s eaten with meat or fish. It produced a surplus as neighbours

grappled with the worst drought in decades. While Zambian farmers have

battled destructive locusts and caterpillars this year, crops are benefiting

from good rainfall.

Read also:  Maize crops set to recover this year

“A large percentage of that maize will end up as

carry-over stock,”  Jacques Pienaar, an analyst at South Africa’s

Commodity Insight Africa, said by email on Friday, using another term for corn.

“This will add price pressure in the next few months, unless the government

opens the border for export by issuing sufficient export permits.”

Zambia placed a ban on exporting corn in April, amid

concerns about food security following the severe drought. The rule will remain

in place until further notice, Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya said in

January.

Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa didn’t

immediately respond to phone calls or a mobile phone text message seeking

comment.

BLOOMBERG

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