THE bumper harvest in maize and other major crops for 2013/14 farming season has come as a relief.
It has come as a relief in the sense that there have been some fears that the maize yield could reduce further this year due to factors like floods in some areas, drought in others and delay in the distribution of inputs.
Zambia’s increased production in maize, rice, millet, groundnuts and tobacco comes against that backdrop, hence heartwarming to many a Zambian.
This increase in the country’s estimated crop production resulting in the country’s positive national food balance for the marketing season, particularly for maize, should be celebrated by all.
Following the reduction in the maize production for the last two seasons running, this year’s bumper harvest provides a break from that.
There is need to build upon this success for subsequent years starting with the 2014/15 farming season.
The first step should be to ensure that the inputs under the 2014/15 Farmer Input Support Programme are delivered to the farmers in good time.
Following the bumper harvest, Zambia’s maize total stock is now estimated at 3.9 million tonnes, with a carryover stock of 597,000 tonnes from last year’s harvest.
The Government, through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), plans to buy 500,000 tonnes of the maize from small-scale farmers for strategic reserves.
Historically, the 3.35-million tonne maize production recorded this year, which translates into more than 32-per cent increase on last season’s production of 2.53 million tonnes is the highest ever.
It is trailed by the 2011 figure of three million tonnes.
This year’s record-high production of the staple crop is attributable to the increases in the total area planted, in investments in the sector, usage of fertiliser and provision of extension services as well as the relatively good rainfall experienced.
The small and medium scale farmers have continued playing a leading role in the production of this crop, accounting for 93 per cent of the total produce for the year.
Like Agricultural and Livestock Minister Wilbur Simuusa said the season’s good maize yield provides the country with a good opportunity to adequately feed itself and the potential to export the surplus.
Indeed, the bumper harvest places the onus on the Government to now come up with adequate storage facilities and address export policy issues.
Further, the Government should introduce ways of promoting value addition to maize and other crops while also addressing the issues related to the cost of production to make the local products more competitive for export market.
It is further encouraging that the crusade for crop diversification has started bearing fruit as is evidenced by the increase recorded in the production of other crops.
The total rice production is estimated at 49,640 tonnes which is an 11-per cent rise on last season’s total production while tobacco production has risen from 30,000 to 36,000 tonnes.
Millet production has also gone up by 27 per cent to 30,000 tonnes together with the groundnuts production which has increased to 143,000 from 106,000 tonnes.
The farmers, especially small and medium ones, therefore, deserve congratulations for the job well-done.