Govt eases the way for more maize imports

The Zambian government has waived the 15 percent import duty on maize to mitigate the food deficit, an official confirmed on Friday. "[The waiver] will allow the Millers Association of Zambia to buy 150,000 mt of maize from South Africa, and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to import 50,000 mt of maize," Enock Katowezhi, a spokesman for the ministry of agriculture told IRIN. Traders calling for the waiver had pointed out that the maize deficit was 250,000 mt and not 85,000 mt as stated by the government, reported The Times of Zambia. According to the last Zambia Vulnerability Assessment Committee report, more than 1.2 million Zambians were in need of food assistance and the country would need at least 118,000 mt of cereals to bridge the food gap. A report by the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), released this week, said Zambia's requirements for 2005/06 (May/April) were estimated at 271,000 mt, which were anticipated to be covered by 224,000 mt of commercial imports and 47,000 mt of international food aid. Katowezhi said the FRA would only import once it had exhausted local supplies. Zambian authorities increased the maize import duty from five percent to 15 percent earlier this year to protect local maize producers. With more maize coming onto the market, food prices were likely to come down - in some areas the price of a 25 kg bag of maize-meal, Zambia's staple food, has shot up from US $7 to $10 within two months. Agencies like the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection have been concerned over escalating maize prices and have made several calls to close the gaps in food-deficit areas as the lean season approaches. In southern Africa, the lean season - when the previous harvest has been consumed and the next one has yet to come in - traditionally lasts from December to March, but drought has hastened its arrival. The main planting season for 2005/06 cereal crops is expected to begin in October, depending on early rainfall, said the FAO report. The government has planned a 50 percent input subsidy programme for the coming agricultural season, targeting 125,000 small-scale farmers with 50,000 mt of fertiliser and 2,600 mt of maize seed.