ZAMBIA (18 September)
Land is under preparation for planting the 2003/04 cereal crops, scheduled from October on. Early planting prospects are uncertain. While the government has announced a 25 percent expansion of its input subsidy programmes, prevailing low maize prices could result in a reduction in the area planted.
The 2003 cereal harvest was estimated at 1.33 million tonnes, an increase of 80 percent from last year’s reduced crop and above average. As a result of this year’s good harvest, maize prices in August continued the downward trend that had begun before the harvest, further benefiting access to food. The government has lifted the ban on exports, and plans to buy 206 000 tonnes of maize through the Food Reserve Agency to replenish strategic reserves.