adminFrom George Maponga in Masvingo
THE distribution of over 1,500 tonnes of maize produced under the winter maize project in Chiredzi will start soon after President Mugabe gave the Masvingo provincial leadership the greenlight to allocate the grain and ease food shortages in the hunger-stricken province.
The maize was harvested over two months ago after Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Hulett committed 329 hectares of irrigation land to grow winter maize in response to the drought that caused severe food shortages throughout Masvingo and other parts of the country.
In July last year, Tongaat agreed to venture into winter maize production after a request from the Masvingo provincial leadership led by Zanu-PF politburo member Cde Josaya Hungwe.
Cde Hungwe, who is secretary for production in the politburo, yesterday confirmed that the winter maize produce would soon be distributed to hunger-stricken villagers in Masvingo.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Prisca Mupfumira recently indicated that the number of people needing food aid countrywide could have doubled from last year’s statstics of 1,5 million to three million given the effects of the ravaging El Nino phenomenon.
The government has intensified efforts to import more food amounting to over 700,000 tonnes from Zambia and other sources to ensure no-one starves to death over and above the contributions of local initiatives.
So far crops in some parts of Matabeleland provinces, the Midlands, Masvingo and Manicalaland have been declared a write-off.
Online Reporter