THE Ministry of Agriculture in Southern Province has disclosed that 220,300 metric tonnes of maize grain is projected to be produced across three districts in the province.
Senior Agricultural Officers in Kalomo, Livingstone, and Kazungula noted that the increased yield this season is attributed to early input distribution by government and good rains among others.
The Authorities indicated that the three districts had 45,800 beneficiaries under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), stating that the projected bumper harvest is in accordance with the Preliminary Crop Forecast Survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Kalomo District Senior Agricultural Officer Oscar Makuyu says from the 31,000 FISP beneficiaries 155,000 metric tonnes of Maize is anticipated to be produced in the district.
Mr Makuyu noted that his office has intensified Post-Harvest Management Losses trainings among farmers to avoid grain loss and is encouraging farmers to secure enough grain for food security.
And Kazungula District Senior Agricultural Officer Danny Silavwe says slightly more than 63,000 metric tonnes of maize grain is expected in the district from the 14,000 FISP beneficiary farmers.
Mr Silavwe admonished farmers to be wary of bogus maize dealers to exploit them out of their produce, but take advantage of the set government prize of K340 per bag under the Food Reserve Agency.
Meanwhile, Livingstone Senior Agricultural Officer Tundu Kaonga disclosed that 2,300 metric tonnes is projected to be produced from the 800 farmers who benefited from FISP in the district.
Mr Kaonga said a crop yield of 100 percent is anticipated in the district as compared to yield registered during the 2023/2024 season.
He revealed that 371 farmers under FISP from the 800 beneficiaries were men while 429 were women during the 2024/2025 farming season.
Beauty Musanda, a beneficiary farmer of Livingstone, says government through the Ministry of Agriculture had arrived delivered agricultural inputs by October 2024 under FISP.
Ms Musanda said she is anticipating to produce 200 by 50 kilogramme bags of white grain maize noting that she has diversified her farming by including cattle rearing, chicken production, and goat production. -NAIS
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