Zambia is set to strengthen its agricultural export position after the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) signed a contract with Kenya’s Baita Trading Company Limited for the export of 540,000 metric tonnes of White Grade A non-GMO maize. The agreement comes as Zambia records strong growth in agricultural export earnings and works to turn increased food production into greater economic value. The maize export deal provides a market for part of the country’s surplus production while creating an opportunity to generate additional foreign exchange. It also supports the government’s broader Grow Zambia Agenda, which seeks to expand productive sectors and increase Zambia’s participation in regional and international markets. The agreement signals a growing focus on using agricultural surpluses to support both farmers and the wider economy.
Zambia recorded a significant increase in agricultural export earnings last year, with exports reaching US$1.1 billion compared with US$967 million in 2024. The increase reflects the growing contribution of agriculture to Zambia’s export economy and highlights the potential for the sector to generate additional foreign exchange. The latest maize agreement adds another important export opportunity as the country works to commercialise its agricultural production. Speaking at the contract signing ceremony held at Cabinet Office in Lusaka, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development Siazongo Siakalenge urged businesses and traders to take advantage of the opportunities created by surplus maize production. He called on the private sector to identify export markets and contribute to economic growth in line with the Grow Zambia Agenda.
The availability of surplus maize follows a major increase in production during the latest farming season. Zambia produced 5.1 million metric tonnes of maize, providing the country with sufficient stocks to meet domestic requirements while making additional volumes available for export. The increased supply has also contributed to stable mealie meal prices, according to government officials, as adequate maize stocks reduce pressure on the local market. With domestic supply requirements being met, the government has identified export markets as an important destination for the surplus. This approach allows Zambia to manage excess production while creating opportunities to earn foreign currency from one of the country’s most important agricultural commodities.
The government has reportedly secured several export opportunities following engagements with countries within the region. These discussions are aimed at opening markets for Zambia’s agricultural surplus and increasing the movement of locally produced commodities across borders. The agreement with Baita Trading Company Limited represents one of the concrete outcomes of this wider effort to develop export markets for maize. Expanding agricultural exports can provide farmers and traders with access to larger markets while supporting economic activity throughout the agricultural value chain. It can also encourage greater investment in production, storage, transportation, processing and other services connected to agriculture.
The 540,000-metric-tonne contract will be implemented in six batches, providing a structured schedule for the movement of the maize. Under the arrangement, 100,000 metric tonnes will be shipped every three months, while the final batch will consist of 40,000 metric tonnes. This phased approach provides a defined framework for delivering the contracted maize volumes to the export market. It also allows the relevant stakeholders to coordinate procurement, storage, transportation and shipment over the duration of the agreement. The scale of the contract demonstrates the significant volume of maize that Zambia now has available for regional and international markets.
Maize exports are also expected to contribute to Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings. Government has indicated that increased foreign currency inflows from maize exports could help support efforts to stabilise the Kwacha. Agricultural exports can contribute to the economy by bringing foreign currency into the country while reducing reliance on a narrower range of export commodities. The impact of individual export agreements will depend on factors such as export prices, production costs and the timing of foreign currency inflows. However, expanding the agricultural export base gives Zambia another avenue for generating foreign exchange as the country seeks stronger economic growth.
The government’s Grow Zambia Agenda includes an ambitious target of producing 10 million metric tonnes of maize annually. This target is designed to ensure that Zambia has enough maize to supply the domestic market while also producing sufficient volumes for export. Achieving 10 million metric tonnes would represent a substantial increase from the 5.1 million metric tonnes produced during the latest farming season. Reaching that level will require continued investment in agricultural inputs, irrigation, mechanisation, extension services, storage infrastructure and access to markets. It will also require farmers and agribusinesses to work within a value chain capable of moving larger volumes efficiently from farms to domestic and international buyers.
The focus on exports also reflects a broader shift towards treating agriculture as a source of economic growth rather than focusing only on domestic food security. Zambia’s ability to produce more maize than it needs for local consumption creates an opportunity to participate more actively in regional food markets. Export markets can provide an outlet for surplus production and potentially create stronger incentives for farmers to increase productivity. At the same time, maintaining adequate domestic stocks remains essential to protect food security and ensure that increased exports do not place unnecessary pressure on local supplies. Balancing domestic needs with export opportunities will therefore remain an important part of managing Zambia’s growing maize production.
President Hakainde Hichilema has set an ambitious economic objective of tripling Zambia’s economy during his second term in office. The expansion of agricultural production and exports forms part of the broader effort to increase economic activity across productive sectors. Agriculture has the potential to contribute to this objective through increased production, value addition, exports and employment. The maize export agreement demonstrates how higher agricultural output can create commercial opportunities beyond the domestic market. If Zambia can consistently expand production while developing reliable export channels, agriculture could make a larger contribution to the country’s economic transformation.
The agreement between the FRA and Baita Trading Company Limited marks an important step in Zambia’s efforts to commercialise its maize surplus and expand agricultural exports. The 540,000 metric tonnes covered by the contract will provide a significant market for Zambia’s White Grade A non-GMO maize while contributing to regional trade. The deal also comes against the backdrop of agricultural export earnings rising to US$1.1 billion, highlighting the growing economic importance of the sector. As Zambia works towards its 10 million metric tonne annual maize production target, stronger export markets will be essential for absorbing increased output. The continued development of agriculture, trade infrastructure and private sector participation will determine how effectively Zambia can turn its production gains into sustained economic growth under the Grow Zambia Agenda.