Zambia Records Food Surplus for the Second Year

For the second year running, Zambia has recorded a food surplus for the current harvest season, despite starting the last farming season on a disastrous note from floods from unprecedented heavy rains in the country, APA learned on Wednesday.

Agriculture minister Sarah Sayifwanda told journalists on Wednesday the country will have sufficient food for its consumption to last till April 2009 - the next harvest period - despite a world wide shortage of food that has led to high prices and un-rest in several countries.

The minister said initial harvest forecasts have indicated that the country would have a surplus of more than 564,000 metric tonnes of various food crops.

Among the surplus food crops that will be harvested in include the staple maize, rice, wheat and sorghum.

She said although the country has recorded a surplus, this was less than the harvest recorded last year by 10,000 metric tonnes.

The slight reduction in production has been attributed to the heavy rains the country experienced at the beginning of the year that destroyed a sizable portion of field crops.

The government was criticized several weeks ago for stating that the country would not face food shortages like other African countries and the current harvest figures will vindicate the government’s claim.

The country has recorded several crop surpluses under President Levy Mwanawasa’s government and has been able to export the surplus to neighboring countries, especially Zimbabwe.

Source African Press Agency

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