In response to an extended dry spell posing a threat to the harvest, the Zambian government has announced restrictions on the export of maize and mealie meal (maize flour).
Minister of Agriculture Reuben Phiri made the announcement on Tuesday, emphasizing that the export limitations will remain in place until a comprehensive assessment of the upcoming harvest is conducted.
“The government’s priority is to safeguard the country’s interests amidst the current situation. Therefore, we have imposed restrictions on the export of maize grain and mealie meal,” stated Minister Phiri during a ministerial address in Parliament addressing the nation’s food security concerns stemming from the dry spell.
In addition to the export ban, the government has taken further measures to prevent smuggling, including deploying defense personnel to monitor known smuggling routes and increasing security patrols and roadblocks in districts prone to trafficking.
