Mealie Meal Prices Down As Bumper Harvest Projected

The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) has said that prices for mealie meal will come down between K50 and K133 due to a projected bumper maize harvest this year.

Speaking on HotFM on Thursday, MAZ President Andrew Chintala said, “Almost all the major brands in Zambia actually have started reducing mealie meal prices. So, the current status is that there has been a reduction in mealie meal prices. The lowest is K230 for breakfast [mealie meal], that is the lowest currently on the market, and I think the highest should be about K285.

Zambia’s farmers will bring in a bumper harvest this year, with maize output set to reach record highs following improved rains and reforms to government support for farmers.

Acting Statistician-General Sheila Mudenda told media on Thursday that the country will produce an estimated 3.66 million tons of maize – up from 1.5 million tons last year. The price for a 25kg bag of mealie meal has already dropped from K400 to K300 in parts of the country and the Bank of Zambia says that inflation will return to its target range of 6-8% by the end of the year.  

The news is much-needed relief for many Zambians after last year’s drought – brought on by the El Niño weather phenomenon – which produced the worst harvest for 16 years.

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Sylvia Masebo said the improved yields were not just the product of good rains but also increased government support for farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), which has allowed smallholders to plant early and more efficiently.

“This yield is not just a product of rainfall; it’s a result of policy alignment and farmer commitment,” she said.  

The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) welcomed the announcement and urged the government to ensure that there is both adequate storage for reserves and market access for exporters to keep grain prices stable.

“We’re looking at opportunities across COMESA and SADC to distribute our excess maize without compromising national reserves,” the minister said.