Online Reporter
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
THE construction of seven new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Grain Marketing Board (GMB) silos at Rutenga Growth Point in Mwenezi is nearing completion in a development that will boost food security across southern Masvingo Province.
The AI-powered silos will have a combined capacity of 56 000 tonnes of grain. Completion of the silos project dovetails with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind and will make Rutenga a grain-storage hub for dry southern parts of the country where farmers predominantly produce traditional grains.
Supply Chain manager at GMB Rutenga, Mr Kennedy Kabanga, revealed that work on the silos is billed for completion by the end of August.
“Construction works are almost complete and in about 2 months (end of August) we expect to have completed this project that comprises seven AI-powered silos with a total capacity of 56 000 tonnes,” he said.
Mr Kabanga said the new silos will store mainly traditional grains, popular with farmers in dry regions such as Rutenga and Mwenezi, for up to 5 years.
He revealed that farmers in Mwenezi and surrounding districts will be able to deliver around 8 000 tonnes of traditional grains annually to the silos for storage in an average agricultural season.
According to Mr Kabanga, the silos will predominantly store sorghum, millet and other traditional grains produced by farmers in Mwenezi and surrounding areas.
“Local farmers will also be able to benefit from our grain-swap programme where they can exchange their traditional grains for the staple maize grain,” he said.
The silos will also play an important role as an access point for grain collection in lean years when drought-stricken communities will need food relief.
The location of the silos close to the road and rail network at Rutenga made the new facility strategic in the country’s food distribution matrix.
