Even as Zambia projects to produce nearly 5 million tonnes of maize in 2026, the crop long considered Zambia’s staple crop and a cornerstone of agricultural policy, is rapidly losing its profitability for smallholder farmers. Agriculture expert Oliver Bulaya has cautioned that soaring input costs and persistently low profits are undermining the financial viability of maize production especially for rural households. In an interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Bulaya highlighted several key challenges facing smallscale growers. “The cost of inputs is extremely high, and both seed and fertilizer prices are prohibitive,” he said. Bulaya pointed out that, while...
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