Which province produces more maize in Zambia?
Southern Province and Eastern Province are the two primary breadbaskets of Zambia. Southern Province produces more than 600,000 metric tons of maize each year from a combination of commercial, which are unique to Southern Province, and smallholder farms.
What is the yield of maize per hectare in Zambia?
AVERAGE MAIZE YIELD RATE OF 5.05 MEIRIC TONNES PER HECTARE.
What are the factors affecting maize production?
The identified factors that affect maize production were education of farmer [14], fertilizer use [4], land-labor ratio, use of fertilizer, use of pesticide, manure and household size [15], age of farmer [16] and farm size [17].
How many bags of maize can a hectare produce?
The price is 7,000 per hectare for plowing and 5,000 per hectare for other operations. For seven hours, one worker can easily gather and deploy bags approximately 2.500 cobs. Per hectare of farmland; with this, you can yield 2,000-4,000 kilos of maize.
Who is the richest farmer in Zambia?
Maria Zaloumis is said to be one of the richest or most successful farmers in Zambia with an estimated fortune of $2 million.
What is the most profitable crop to grow in Zambia?
The agricultural sector in Zambia supports livelihoods of 85% of the population. Maize is the principal cash crop (>65% of cropped land) as well as the main staple crop.
How many bags of fertilizer do I need for a hectare of maize?
Maize Fertilizer Requirements Per Acre Maize can easily achieve 9 tons/ha (40 bags per acre) with the right agronomy and adequate moisture, but it does require adequate nutrition to achieve this. The amount of fertilizer required is best calculated by multiplying the target yield in tons per hectare, by 20-25 Kg.
Which is the best fertilizer for planting maize?
The standard fertilizer recommendation for maize consists of 150 kg ha−1 NPK 14–23–14 and 50 kg ha−1 urea (Dugué 2010).
What are the conditions for growing maize?
Maize is grown in temperatures between 18°C and 27°C during the day and around 14°C during the night. But the most important factor is the 140 frost-free days. The crop is very susceptible to frost; therefore, its cultivation in temperate latitudes is limited.
Are hybrid maize varieties being used in Zambia?
This would result in a lower average price of the seed per kg used to sow the entire plot. This study from Zambia suggests that in Chipata, the research area, most farmers are indeed using hybrid maize varieties since they are widely promoted under the FISP subsidy scheme, and grain is easily sold through the FRA program.
Why private seed companies in Zambia?
Zambia has favorable policies and ecological conditions for private seed companies to thrive. Over the years a number of international and national companies have established themselves in the country, producing for both the national and regional African seed market.
Do producers store and consume maize produced from hybrid varieties?
While some producers do store and consume maize produced from hybrids and recycled hybrid varieties, it is likely that producers sow local varieties to complement hybrid production on their main plot, or on other plots and small home gardens for consumption.
Is Malawi seed being illegally traded into Zambia?
It is likely that subsidized seed from Malawi is illegally traded into Zambia and sold for profit at a lower price than Zambian unsubsidized hybrid seeds (K. B. Lweya CIMMYT, pers. comm).