On 26 June, the Government announced a ban on the exports of unprocessed food crops, including maize, the main staple. The measure aims to ease supply pressure and curb food prices, but also to boost the food-processing industry. Despite recent significant declines with the 2017 main harvest, maize prices in June are still at levels well above those a year earlier, after sustained increases in the previous months, due to reduced supplies from the drought-reduced 2016 secondary harvests and concerns over the performance of the 2017 crops. The country is a key exporter in the subregion and sustained demand from neighbouring countries was also a key driver of the steep increases.