By Ziyah News Chief Reporter
Harare- As the country pins its hopes on a better 2024/24 rainy season for a better harvest and put the memories of the ElNino ravaged 2023/24 summer cropping summer cropping season, the Government is on its toes putting in place mechanisms that will ensure no Zimbabwean starves by shoring food reserves with import and ensuring affordable basics are available through the Grain Marketing Board.
In its post Cabinet briefing of today, Government reports that the country will need at close to half a million metric tonnes of cereals to cover the populace and has put in place mechanisms to ensure the shortfall in the grain reserves is bridged.
“The country’s food balance sheet to March 2025 indicates that 6.2 million rural population will require assistance. Taking into consideration the rural population requirements to March 2025 and the school feeding programme to April 2025, the maximum amount of grain required is 464 608.54 metric tonnes.”
“Current stocks in the Strategic Grain Reserve, comprising wheat, maize and traditional grains are at 264 246 metric tonnes excluding 32 314 metric tonnes imported by Government to date. The 200 362.54 metric tonnes shortfall will be met from the winter wheat harvest surplus on the national annual requirement estimated at 240 000 metric tonnes as well as additional Government grain imports estimated at 300 000 metric tonnes, ” confirmed Government.
Meanwhile, Government has indicated it will accelerate depot-to-depot grain movement for the current period of August to October 2024 which cover the second phase of the grain.
Cabinet also informed that as part of the Government price stabilisation thrust, and to enhance product availability, accessibility and affordability, the Grain Marketing Board is now operating 50 Agro-shops, supported by 12 hammer mills mostly in rural areas and peri-urban depots
“The commodities sold at these Agro-shops include mealie-meal, sugar, rice, salt, flour, soap and cooking oil. Silo Foods’ complementary products include coffee, bran, dried kapenta, flour, grits, maize-meal, salt, silo samp and traditional mealie-meal.”
According to the briefing , the private sector is also expected to import all stock-feed requirements to March 2025 of 400 000 metric tonnes and urban maize requirements of up to 450 000 metric tonnes. To date 567 160 metric tonnes has been imported. Import permits worth 1.8 million metric tonnes of maize are active.