Staple food prices in Zambia

Zambia’s 11 million people occupy a large swath of fertile but landlocked farmland in the central part of southern Africa. Given its low population density, abundant subsurface water, large tracts of cultivable farmland and proximity to large neighboring deficit food markets, Zambia enjoys significant potential as a prospective regional food exporter. Despite this considerable agricultural potential, Zambia remains intermittently food deficit (in poor harvest years), autarkic (in normal years) and food surplus (in good harvest years). Maize prices fluctuate considerably from year to year as a result of domestic production volatility and a penchant for government control of cross-border trade in food staples