by Tendai Matunhu

Government has been offered maize donation of close to 4000 metric tonnes amounting to US$1million, a source in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Development has revealed.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in South Africa donated the maize which is currently located at AFGRI silos South Africa. AFGRI Agri Services is partner in agriculture and provides services across Africa on the entire grain production and storage cycle.

Government is set to commence the modalities of transporting the grain from South Africa to Zimbabwe. The donation by the church is meant to benefit the vulnerable families who are likely to face food shortages in light of this year’s drought effects.

In a move to stimulate production by farmers, the church intends to improve production levels by farmers in Zimbabwe and that through the provision of boreholes in case of drought effects.

Before being transported to Zimbabwe the grain will be inspected by the External Grain Mobilisation and logistics sub-committee stationed in South Africa. GMB inspectors, Bio-technology Authority and the Department of Research and Specialist Services will also be involved in the maize inspection.

Zimbabwe faced poor harvests in the 2014/15 and a historic drought in 2015/16 cropping seasons respectively, and the second-worst cyclone on record in 2019, which took its toll on Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. The 2018/19 cropping season had poor agricultural production and deteriorated livestock conditions, due to severe drought experienced in that season.  Zimbabwe is currently in the middle of back-to-back droughts, to that effect people in most farming areas are failing to harvest the required crop to sustain them till the next farming season.  The Government has resolved to import grain from neighbouring countries which include Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa to ensure good security is achieved.