MAIZE 

MALAWI – The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) has announced an immediate increase in maize buying prices, a move aimed at encouraging farmers and traders to deliver more maize to the agency and strengthen national food security.

TANZANIA – The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has introduced the 2024 food fortification regulations, making it mandatory for staple foods such as maize flour to be enriched with essential nutrients in a nationwide effort to tackle malnutrition.

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s trade surplus has fallen sharply, dropping by R34 billion (US$1.89 billion) in a single quarter, largely due to weaker mining outputs and a notable decline in maize exports, according to the latest figures from the South African Reserve Bank’s balance of payments report.

Zimbabwe has recently reinstated a maize import ban (end of August 2025), citing a bumper harvest which has made the country largely self‑sufficient for its milling/corn demand.

Millet Maize DDGS Ethanol Int- As the agricultural landscape continues to evolve, the focus on maize production in Tanzania reveals a complex interaction between climate, geography, and human efforts. The newly published study by Nassary and Magubika underscores significant spatiotemporal trends in maize production that merit serious consideration from policy makers, agronomists, and food security advocates alike. This research illuminates seasonal variability and production yields, providing a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence the success of maize farming in Tanzania.

NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) on behalf of BSPB (British Society of Plant Breeders) published the 2026 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists. Twelve new maize varieties have been added to the 2026 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists. These are split across lists for “Favourable First Choice”, “Favourable Second Choice”, and “First Choice for Less Favourable sites”.

Palm Sugar Market to Reach US$ 2,776.9 Mn by 2032, Growing at 3.4% CAGR Driven by Health Trends”— Persistence Market Research (Press Release dated 22‑Sep‑2025) The global palm sugar market is forecast to grow from US$ 2,197.40 million in 2025 to US$ 2,776.90 million by 2032, at a CAGR of 3.4%.

Harare / Pretoria, September 2025 — Zimbabwe has reinstated a ban on maize imports, citing a bumper domestic harvest and a desire to protect local farmers. The move has sparked concern and recalibration among South African maize producers and exporters, many of whom have traditionally relied on Zimbabwe as a key market.

Market forecast to grow to 233K tons and $860M by 2035 despite a recent slowdown Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Egypt lead in both consumption and production Uganda, Kenya, and Cote d'Ivoire have the highest per capita consumption rates Namibia is the largest importer by volume, while South Africa's exports command the highest price Intra-African trade is modest, with exports from Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa dominating.

Better weather conditions (like improved rainfall 🌦️). Higher planting area or better yields from farms. Improved farming practices or access to inputs (like fertilizer or quality seeds).

South Africa has raised its estimate for this season’s corn crop, signaling a stronger-than-expected harvest driven by improved weather conditions and resilient farming practices.The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) announced that total maize production for the 2024/2025 season is now projected to reach X million tons, up from the previous forecast of Y million tons. This upward revision reflects better-than-anticipated yields in key growing regions such as the Free State and Mpumalanga.