Although maize remains the predominant cereal crop and staple food in Zambia, the area planted to maize and level of production has declined in recent years, at least in some areas, whilst the area and production of cassava, sorghum, millets and soybean have increased. Production levels for other crops, such as sunflower, beans and groundnuts have also tended to increase of late (see Annex 2).
Maize is grown in all the districts under study, although it is secondary to cassava in Kaoma and Mansa Districts. In Kalomo and Chibombo Districts maize is produced both as a cash and a food crop. In the maize predominant areas of Kalomo and Chibombo, the most important secondary cash crops are sunflower and groundnuts. In cassava predominant areas, the most important secondary cash crops are reported to be maize in Kaoma and groundnuts in Mansa
In the liberalised marketing system producers are no longer guaranteed timely delivery of subsidised inputs nor a ready market for their produce. The higher costs and the now sometimes erratic supply or late delivery of inputs have resulted in lower yields of maize. This, together with the loss of the guaranteed market, has also resulted in a reduction in the area under maize in some districts.
In some parts of the country, including the important maize-producing districts of Kalomo and Chibombo, the loss of draught animals as a result of two outbreaks of a tick-borne disease (corridor disease) in the last four years has contributed to a general reduction in the area land under cultivation and especially for maize.
The failure of the rains and the ensuing drought in 1992 resulted in a major reduction in maize (603,000 mt compare to an average of over 1.5 million mt). In 1993 maize production recovered to around 1.6 million mt but the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons were again deficit years.
A combination of these factors (drought, loss of cattle and the overall increase in the costs of maize production) has led many producers to reduce their areas of maize and to move into the more drought-resistant and non-fertiliser demanding crops such as sorghum and millet.
As far as small- and medium-scale farmers are concerned, there is evidence that intensive production of hybrid maize as a cash crop is unprofitable in many parts of the country. Farmers could enhance their income by diversifying into non-traditional crops including soybeans, sunflower, cotton and pulses of various kinds, while continuing to produce maize for home consumption. (An economic analysis of a sunflower versus a maize production enterprise for Kalomo District is given in Annex 3).
Movement into other crops seems to be delayed by the tradition of growing maize, food security concerns and smallholder credit schemes which provide fertiliser. Small-scale producers account for around 80% of maize production, and given diversification by commercial farmers to cash and export crops, this percentage may increase. MAFF reports confirm that the production of non-traditional crops is increasing and although it is not possible to distinguish a clear trend in the changes, it anticipates that the production of these crops will continue to expand given favourable market prospects and increasing promotional activities undertaken by programmes such as the SPFS, and agribusiness companies in outgrower schemes.