Maize
ZAMBIA MAIZE KEY FIGURES
| 2025/2026 Harvest | 2024/2025 Harvest | 2031 Production Target | FISP Loans Facility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,937,605 Mt | 3.9 million Mt | 10 million Mt | K777.3 million |
Zambia’s 2025/2026 maize harvest is projected at 4,937,605 metric tonnes, the highest ever recorded in the country’s history, exceeding the previous season’s record output of 3.9 million metric tonnes, as the government pursues a target of increasing maize production to 10 million metric tonnes per annum by 2031.
Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa attributed the back-to-back record harvests to favourable weather, timely input distribution, and targeted interventions under the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme, while the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility enabled 8,841 farmers to access loans worth K777.3 million as of end-June 2025.
Recent Harvests
Zambia’s maize harvest for the 2025/2026 season is projected at 4,937,605 metric tonnes, the highest maize production ever recorded in the country’s history, exceeding the previous season’s record output of 3.9 million metric tonnes[1]. Speaking at the official dissemination of the 2025/2026 Crop Forecasting Survey Results in Lusaka, Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa attributed the strong performance to favourable weather conditions, timely distribution of farming inputs, and targeted government interventions under the Comprehensive Agriculture Transformation Support Programme and the Eighth National Development Plan, noting that the country has now secured two consecutive seasons of recovery and growth following the 2023/2024 climate-induced drought[1]. The improved maize harvest outlook was separately cited by the Bank of Zambia’s Monetary Policy Committee as a factor supporting its May 2026 decision to cut the Monetary Policy Rate[2].
Financing Access
The Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility, introduced in 2023 to enhance access to agricultural finance, had enabled 8,841 farmers to access loans valued at K777.3 million as of end-June 2025[3].
Production Targets
Secretary to the Cabinet Kangwa expressed confidence that Zambia is on course to achieve national agricultural targets of 10 million metric tonnes of maize, 3 million metric tonnes of soybeans, and 1 million metric tonnes of wheat annually by 2031, to be pursued through policy reforms, expanded irrigation investment, mechanisation, enhanced access to finance and improved extension services[1]. The 2026 Budget allocates K15.5 billion to Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock, including K9.15 billion specifically to the Farmer Input Support Programme[3].
Investment Opportunities
Secretary to the Cabinet Kangwa said the 2025/2026 season’s cereal and tuber food balance sheet shows Zambia will record an overall surplus for the 2026/2027 marketing season, and urged farmers and private sector players to take advantage of the anticipated bumper harvest and emerging regional export opportunities, while cautioning that meteorological projections point to a higher likelihood of below-average rainfall in the 2026/2027 farming season[1]. The gap between current harvests and the 10 million tonne 2031 target also points to opportunities in the storage, processing and export logistics needed to handle Zambia’s growing surplus, detailed further on the dedicated Agriculture page[1].
Last Update: September 2026
