Zambia Projected To Record A Maize Surplus Of Over 500,000 Metric Tonnes

The Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture have released the results of the Crop Forecasting Survey for the 2024/2025 Agricultural season. During the Dissemination, Acting Statistician General, Mrs. Sheila S. Mudenda revealed that Zambia is projected to have a total maize supply estimated at 4,040,645 metric tonnes with national requirements of 3,539,024 metric tonnes resulting in a surplus of 501,621 metric tonnes. Basically, what this means is that the opening stocks as of 1st May 2025 were recorded at 384,999 metric tonnes. The opening stocks represent carry over from the previous agricultural marketing season (2024/2025) stocks. The opening stocks together with the expected total production for the 2024/2025 Agricultural season is what gives us the total maize supply of over 4,040,000 metric tonnes.
Mrs. Mudenda announced that the expected maize production for the 2024/2025 Agricultural season has been recorded at 3,655,646 metric tonnes higher than that recorded in the 2023/2024 agricultural season at 1,511,143 metric tonnes. Further, Central Province is projected to have the highest maize production of 680,085 metric tonnes, followed by Eastern province with 535,743.18 while Western Province is projected to have the lowest yield at 93,965.77 metric tonnes.
She noted that small- and medium-scale farmers contributed 93.0 percent of the expected total maize production, while large-scale farmers accounted for only 7.0 percent.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Acting Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Sylvia Masebo, reaffirmed that the crop production estimates presented by the Acting Statistician General are based on a scientifically sound and internationally recognized methodology.
She emphasized the importance of the Crop Forecasting Survey, which is conducted annually to support effective planning for the country’s food and nutrition security, making it a critical tool for both the government and the nation.
In conclusion, the Minister highlighted that the National Food Balance Sheet for the 2025/2026 Agricultural Marketing Season, derived from the Crop Forecast Survey, confirms that Zambia has produced enough maize to meet both human consumption and industrial needs. She described this as a remarkable achievement, especially considering the severe drought experienced last season and the climatic challenges faced during the current agricultural year.