The Government has halted maize imports on account of expectations of a bumper output this year; the issuance of import permits was restricted about four months ago and now maize imports are prohibited. Good weather conditions and an increase in the area planted are expected to result in a bumper output of 2.1 million tonnes, significantly above 2016’s drought-reduced level and the previous five-year average. The recent measure aims to protect local farmers amidst forecast of abundant availabilities of domestically-produced maize.