Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Writer
THE Government has set in motion modalities to move 2 000 tonnes of maize into the Matabeleland region to address grain scarcity in Bulawayo and surrounding areas as it moves in to contain an increase in the price of mealie-meal.
The move comes amid reports that there is a low maize grain deliveries to the Bulawayo Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot as the Matabeleland region produced more traditional grains during the previous summer season.
This has resulted in some retail shops increasing the price of mealie-meal although the Government has assured that it is only temporary.
The southern parts of Zimbabwe, including Bulawayo, are considered suitable for growing traditional grains like sorghum and pearl millet, which do well due to agro-ecological tailoring as climate change effects continue to be felt.
A snap survey conducted by Sunday News showed that some retail outlets in Bulawayo had increased mealie-meal prices from US$5 to between US$6 and US$7 for a 10 kg bag.
In an interview in Bulawayo yesterday, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri confirmed the temporary shortage of maize at the GMB depot in Bulawayo but was quick to say modalities were in place to address the situation.
“We are aware of the situation in the Matabeleland region, particularly Bulawayo. There has been slow movement in terms of maize grain into the region. Certainly, in Matabeleland, maize production is low and the bulk of production is in Mashonaland regions. The movement of grain from Mashonaland into Bulawayo has been very slow,” he said.
“The stakeholders involved in grain that include the millers and their associations such as Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ), the grain associations and the farmer unions have been meeting to ensure that they resolve the issue of availability of maize in Bulawayo in particular. There have been promises that they are starting to move at least 2 000 tonnes of grain into the Matabeleland region.”
He said the situation in Bulawayo should start stabilising very soon as more and more maize moves into the city.
Prof Jiri said the GMB depots in Mashonaland and other regions are also mobilising to move grain to the Bulawayo GMB depot, should the situation require, they will also utilise grain at the GMB depot Harare.
The Permanent Secretary, however, said stakeholders, particularly GMAZ and Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX), were leading from the front in ensuring the availability of maize grain in Bulawayo and the situation was to stabilise in the next week or two.
He also encouraged farmers and millers in Bulawayo to do grain swaps to get maize grain.
“In the last summer season, there was a lot of traditional grain production in Matabeleland and Masvingo regions. We encourage farmers to also embark on a grain swap. As maize grain comes into GMB, farmers are encouraged to go in and swap traditional grains for maize grain to ensure that they have access to the grain that they prefer,” said Prof Jiri.
“So it’s really critical that we can do that, even the millers as well, if they have traditional grains, they can go to GMB and apply for the swap, which is an option available for millers and farmers alike.”
