(Ecofin Agency) - In Zambia, corn output is set to fall to 2.39 million tons during the 2017-18 campaign, from the 3.61 million tons last season, representing a decline by 34%. This information, reported by Reuters, was revealed by the government.

According to the minister of agriculture, the country is facing at the same time a drought spell that hit several production areas, and armyworms as well as maize stem borers’ attacks. Although this drop in maize production reflects the agriculture sector’s instability from one year to another, it would not result into a food insecurity as the country only consumes 1.6 million tons of the crop per year.

Let’s recall that maize is mainly grown by small-scale farmers who account for nearly 70% of the active population in the agriculture sector.

Espoir Olodo