Purchasing Power
Zambian farmers this year seem to be better off than their neighbours. The harvest has been good, allowing Zambia to be one of the few maize surplus countries in the region – it is indeed expected to produce in 2012 almost double its domestic need of 1.5 million tonnes. This has helped prices of both maize grain and maize meal to remain stable from June to September. However, localised price hikes were triggered in a few border markets as a result of intensified trade, due to food deficits in neighbouring countries. The Government’s Food Reserve Agency also increased purchases to fill its strategic grain reserves. This could be a good income-raising opportunity for surplus-producing farmers.
October 2012
Food Security