Staff reporter
The country has sufficient grain to last until the next harvest in 2023, a Government Minister has announced.
Speaking during the 28th post Cabinet press briefing yesterday, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said that the National Grains Status report presented by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development at 28 September advised that the available grain will last for almost 14months.
“The nation is being informed that the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) grain stocks as at 28 September 2022 stand at 550 464 metric tonnes comprising 475 966 metric tonnes of maize and 74 498 metric tonnes of traditional grains. Social welfare consumption is budgeted now at 15 000 metric tonnes per month. Total consumption per month is currently forecast at 40 000 metric tonnes. Using this monthly rate of 40 000 metric tonnes, the available grain will last for 13.8 months. The country has sufficient grain to last until the next harvest in 2023,” she said
Minister Mutsvangwa added that Millers and stock feed manufacturers will have to import grain in order to meet their grain demand.
“Millers and stock feed manufacturers are expected to import grain to cover the gap in their own requirements, “she said
The Minister said that grain delivered by farmers to GMB since April this year was valued at ZW$21 405 989 254 covering maize, wheat and traditional grains, with most farmers having been paid for their deliveries to GMB.
Minister Mutsvangwa further said that preparations for a good wheat harvest this year were already being made.
“Current wheat stocks stand at 52 167 metric tonnes, and will provide two months’ cover at a consumption rate of 21 000 metric tonnes per month. Harvesting of the 2022 Winter wheat crop has commenced in many parts of the country, and preparations for purchasing the crop are underway resulting in the country attaining wheat self-sufficiency”, she said.
Meanwhile, Government is upbeat the country will meet its national wheat requirements for the first time in many years after surpassing its wheat hectarage target for this year.
