1.
TV & MV Lorries waiting outside for unloading (2 shots)
0.11

2.
CU Sign "National Agriculture Marketing Board, Lusaka"
0.13

3.
SV Grain cilo
0.18

4.
TV ZOOM OUT..MVa & CUs loading operations (7 shots)
1.25

5.
MV Man walking between two large stacks of maize
1.30

6.
M PULL BACK TO GV.. man hauling giant cover over stacks
1.39

7.
MV Completed stacks
1.46

8.
CU Stack, PULL BACK TO GV..several stacks
2.02



Initials ES. 1435 ES. 1500



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Zambia's maize crop has bene so abundant this year that there will be a surplus which can be exported.

Last year Zambia had to import maize, as her own supplies were low because of bad weather. The government was compelled to buy 1.5 million bags from Rhodesia, despite the sanctions officially applied against the Rhodesian regime since their Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

Some Zambians have expressed fears that exporting maize could lead to another internal shortage; but the Minister of Rural Affairs, Mr. Reuben Kanaga, said the exportable surplus was in addition to a reserve supply.

While Government officials are sounding out likely markets for the maize, workers are busily storing the harvest in huge stacks. These have to be covered with giant tarpaulins to protect them from the heavy rains which will start next month.

SYNOPSIS: Lorries loaded with bags of maize symbolise a successful harvest in Zambia. The crop has been so good this year, there will be surplus for export.

At a depot in Lusaka hard work is seeing the harvest safely stored before next months's heavy rains. For maize, which was first brought to Africa from America by Jesuit priests, has become an important factor in Zambia's economy. Last year supplies ran so low that Zambia was compelled to import one and a half million bags from Rhodesia, despite the economic sanctions which were officially in force against that country. The crisis had arisen because Zambia' own crop had been hit disastrously by bad weather. There was jubilation when this year's crop thrived. A total yield of six and a half million bags is expected -- fifty per cent up on last year. Some Zambians have been worried by the news that the Government intends exporting some of the harvest. They fear there could be another shortage at home if too much is sent abroad. Their worries were answered personally by Mr. Reugben Kamanga, Zambia's Minister of Rural Affairs, He commented in the Government newspaper that he had already made allowances for a surplus to be kept in Zambia. The crop had been so successful there was still enough left over to export. Giant tarpaulins are hauled over the stacks of maize to protect them from the weather. There are over a million bags of maize stored at this Lusaka ??? And thee are several other depots like this one at various locations on Zambia's railway network.