By staff reporter
Government has announced that the nation has 563 604 metric tones of grain in stock as at the 16th of October 2023, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa has revealed.
Addressing the media yesterday in the thirty first post cabinet briefing, Minister Mutsvangwa said, "Cabinet advises that the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) grain stocks as at 16th of October 2022 stood at 563605 metric tones comprising of 486 717 metric tones of maize and 76 887 metric tones of traditional grain."
Using the monthly consumption rate of 49 294 metric tones per month, the grain will last for 11.4 months. The country is slowly going back to its previous status of being the bread basket of the region.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has previously highlighted that the country is working towards achieving capacity to achieve the whole region. This is also in line with Vision 2030 which will see Zimbabwe being an upper-Middle class economy by 2030.
Presidential Inputs Scheme has helped farmers to produce enough grain reserves for the nation. Furthermore, the Pfumvudza/ Intwasa initiative by the President is slowly bearing fruits for the country.
Meanwhile, Minister Mutsvangwa also confirmed that the country has wheat stock reserves for 3.6 months.
Minister Mutsvangwa said, "This week the current wheat stock stands at 89 331 metric tones, and this will provide 3.6 months' cover at a consumption rate of 21 000 metric tones per month.”
She further announced to the nation that harvesting of the 2022 winter wheat crop is progressing in many parts of the country.
