Zambia has been forced to import 650,000 metric tons of white maize from Tanzania due to a severe drought that has cut its own maize production by over 50%. The drought has affected food availability in the country, leading to significant shortages of key food commodities in the local market.
Zambia, which is the second largest maize producing nation in Southern Africa after South Africa, declared the drought a national disaster in February and introduced a state of emergency. The country has also banned maize exports to ensure food security for its own population, which has put pressure on South Africa to supply its neighboring countries with maize even when its own prospects do not look promising.[1][2][3]
Citations:
[1] https://twitter.com/Dev_Discourse/status/1803387524431130996
[2] https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/2988065-zambia-imports-650000-tons-of-maize-amidst-drought-crisis
[3] https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2024-06-19-zambia-plans-to-import-650000-tons-white-maize-from-tanzania/
[4] https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business/drought-stricken-zambia-turns-to-uganda-for-0-5m-of-maize--4605424
[5] https://www.agriculture.gov.zm/?Itemid=0&catid=4&m=0&option=com_jdownloads&view=finish