The decision by Zambian authorities to ban maize exports during the 2016/2017 marketing season cost the southern African nation 270.5 million U.S. dollars. The Indaba Agriculture Policy Research (APRI) said the maize export ban undermined agriculture-led growth as the private sector were deprived an opportunity to take advantage of a maize shortage that had hit the southern African region. Closing the borders at a time when the regional demand was high cost the country significant foreign exchange. The export ban undermined private sector participation in the maize trade.