Zambia lifts export restrictions on maize and mealie meal

The Zambian Ministry of Agriculture has removed restrictions on the export of maize grain and maize products, including mealie meal. This policy change aims to support farmers by providing access to more competitive local and international markets, thereby improving household incomes and stimulating the agro-processing sector.

Traders, millers, and processors are permitted to export these products to any market provided they obtain the necessary export permits through the Zambia Electronic Single Window platform. The government intends for this move to promote national food security through regulated trade while ensuring farmers benefit from their production.

In support of this market shift, UPND member George Mtonga has urged farmers to embrace private markets rather than relying solely on government purchases. He emphasized that the government is only one participant in the economy and encouraged small-scale farmers to aggregate into larger commercial units to engage with international commodity traders and exporters. Mtonga noted that private sector profit motives will ultimately drive agricultural production at scale, while the government's role should focus on providing infrastructure, regulation, and market access.