Luanshya district has exceeded its maize production target for the 2025/2026 farming season, recording a harvest of 37,900 metric tonnes against the projected 35,000 metric tonnes. The achievement represents approximately 108 percent of the district’s production target,…

Luanshya district has exceeded its maize production target for the 2025/2026 farming season, recording a harvest of 37,900 metric tonnes against the projected 35,000 metric tonnes.

The achievement represents approximately 108 percent of the district’s production target, surpassing the projected harvest by 2,900 metric tonnes.

This came to light during the Third Quarter District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting held in Luanshya, where the agriculture sector presented its performance report.

The meeting further heard that the district had sold 178,600 bags of maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), against a target of 18,000 bags.

The development represents a significant achievement in maize marketing and highlights the district’s contribution to national food security and agricultural development.

Meanwhile, the agriculture sector disclosed that Luanshya has 7,521 beneficiaries under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity among small-scale farmers.

Of the total beneficiaries, 4,387 have so far redeemed their farming inputs from participating agro-dealers, representing approximately 58 percent of the beneficiaries.

The meeting also heard that 4,766 farmers supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency during the marketing season.

And District Commissioner, Paul Malele, who is also Committee Chairperson, outlined measures being undertaken to transform small-scale farming into commercially viable enterprises through farmer training, improved agricultural marketing and business development.

Mr Malele emphasised the need for farmers to move beyond subsistence production and embrace farming as a business in order to improve household incomes and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.

He highlighted the importance of strengthening market linkages and improving farmers’ access to competitive prices for their agricultural produce.

The District Commissioner further challenged government departments and other development stakeholders to ensure that their activities translate into tangible economic benefits for communities.

Mr Malele emphasised that development performance should not merely be measured through cumulative figures but through the actual contributions made towards improving people’s livelihoods.

He called for greater collaboration among government institutions, the private sector and individuals in driving the district’s development agenda.