Zambia's maize harvest forecast to hit record 4.9 million tonnes

Zambia is on course for its highest-ever maize harvest, with the Zambia Statistics Agency forecasting production of approximately 4.937 million metric tonnes for the 2025/2026 farming season, a 27.8 per cent increase on last year's estimate of 3.8 million tonnes.

The projection was released as part of the agency's Crop Forecast Survey and Post Harvest Survey dissemination. While the figure remains a forecast rather than a confirmed yield, it points to one of the strongest agricultural performances Zambia has recorded.

Maize continues to dominate the country's planting profile, covering approximately 2.4 million hectares this season. Soya beans ranked second among major crops with around 410,000 hectares planted, followed by sunflower at 233,000 hectares. Smaller areas were planted with millet and sorghum, at around 47,000 and 37,000 hectares respectively.

Southern Province recorded the largest area under cultivation at roughly 495,000 hectares, followed by Central Province at 450,000 hectares. Lusaka Province recorded the smallest, at around 69,000 hectares.

The 2025/2026 forecast season marks a significant milestone for the country's agricultural sector, which continues to play a central role in the wider economic recovery.