Zimbabwe is halting maize imports once again, after a strong harvest restored local supply and offered relief to millers, Reuters reported. The decision comes just a year after severe drought forced the government to ease import restrictions to stave off food shortages.

Obert Jiri, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, said, “We assess the situation every day. We must protect local purchases from our local farmers.”

The southern African country consumes about 1.8 million metric tons of maize annually. Output plunged to roughly 800,000 metric tons in 2023/24 from 2.3 million metric tons two years earlier, highlighting the vulnerability of domestic production to weather shocks.

This year, favorable rainfall and state-backed programs, including the Pfumvudza smallholder initiative, have revived production, creating a rare surplus. Authorities are also encouraging the cultivation of drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum and millet to reduce future dependence on imports.

Zimbabwe’s reliance on imported maize has previously strained foreign currency reserves. In 2020, the country spent $300 million on maize imports while more than half the population required food aid.