Good maize crop expected

Despite erratic rains and production difficulties faced by farmers, Zambia is expecting a good early crop of its
staple maize.

Yields for irrigated maize have eased government concerns that it would have to import to cover a forecast shortfall after early rains gave way to a dry spell in December at the critical phase of crop germination. Meanwhile, peasant farmers who planted late pending the arrival of fertilisers have been saved the costs of replanting, and are now benefiting from a better
rainfall.

"Preliminary indications are that it's going to be a good crop. It seems that farmers are able to supply the quantity of maize the government was going to import for the April/May period," Alfred Banda of the Zambia National Farmers Union told IRIN. National demand is less than 800,000 mt.

But in the 1980s, Zambia's maize output regularly exceeded 1.3 million mt. Because of production problems such as a lack of farm credits or poor rural feeder roads, farmers have opted lately for more lucrative cash crops. "From a purely economic point of view we should stop growing maize if we can't
address the production costs," Banda said.

Zambia's agricultural difficulties stem in part from the government's dismantling of state agencies when it took power in 1991 in favour of a free market. "There is no institutional support for farmers," Banda said. "The government lacks a strategic vision."

Despite having the best climate and soils in the region, Zambian maize farmers cannot compete with imports from South Africa and Zimbabwe. According to a European Union study, low yields, heavy taxation and duties on critical farm inputs such as machinery, the relatively high price of fertiliser, plus transport costs double those of its neighbours, all serve to make Zambia a high-cost producer.

"The government's approach has not been very focussed," Banda said. "We just need a strategy to address our internal situation."