We
understand
that
it
is
in
place
to
protect
domestic
farmers,
to
some
extent,
during
the
months
following
harvest.
But
there
is
growing
evidence
that
the
supply
is
constrained.
Some
milling
firms
already
face
challenges
because
of
the
maize
shortage.
As
we
argued
a
few
days
ago,
Zimbabwe
likely
doesn’t
have
sufficient
maize
supplies
for
their
annual
needs.
We
believe,
based
on
data
from
the
United
States
Department
of
Agriculture
(USDA),
that
Zimbabwe’s
maize
production
is
around
1.3
million
tonnes.
Given
the
annual
consumption
of
2.0
million
tonnes,
they
naturally
need
about
700,000
tonnes
to
fulfil
their
needs.
However,
we
had
anticipated
that
the
needs
would
be
more
severe
by
the
end
of
the
year
and
into
the
first
quarter
of
2026.
We
thought
the
current
harvest
would
carry
them
for
now,
albeit
with
artificially
higher
prices
in
the
context
of
a
ban
on
imports
of
affordable
maize
from
the
world
market.
But
it
appears
that
the
supplies
are
constrained
already.
Under
this
context,
while
it
is
understandable
that
the
Zimbabwean
government
wants
to
protect
farmers,
it
would
be
beneficial
for
them
to
consider
lifting
the
ban
now
and
supporting
the
households.
Source:
Zimbabwe
Must
Lift
The
Ban
on
Maize
Imports
|
Wandile
Sihlobo