Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
The AGRICULTURAL and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) and the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) have strengthened their partnership to accelerate grain deliveries, a move expected to bolster Zimbabwe’s food security and strategic grain reserves as the summer marketing season gathers momentum.
The enhanced collaboration comes as ARDA’s summer cereal deliveries to the GMB have reached 120 054 tonnes, with more grain expected as harvesting continues in parts of the country.
Of the total grain delivered, 27 836 tonnes have been channelled to Agro-Dura to support both the country’s strategic grain reserves and the commercial milling industry.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the continued inflow of grain reflects the success of Government’s integrated agricultural production model, which combines large-scale commercial farming with joint venture partnerships.
“Our contribution to the national grain reserves reflects the success of the integrated agricultural model, which combines large-scale commercial production and joint venture partnerships, which continues to yield tangible results for farmers and the nation at large,” he said.
Prof Jiri said grain deliveries were ongoing and the volumes would continue to increase as harvesting reaches completion.
He said the growing deliveries would further strengthen national food security while ensuring adequate stocks for the country’s strategic grain reserves.
ARDA chief executive officer Mr Tonotenda Mhiko said the authority had worked closely with the GMB to provide integrated logistics support, ensuring grain is moved efficiently from production areas to storage and processing facilities.
“The partnership with GMB has been instrumental in maintaining the integrity of the supply chain and guaranteeing that contracted farmers deliver their produce efficiently,” he said.
Mr Mhiko said efficient grain movement was critical in safeguarding harvests, reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring adequate supplies for national reserves and industrial processing.
He said ARDA would continue providing technical and logistical support to contracted farmers until all grain produced under its programmes had been delivered.
Sorghum has emerged as one of the strongest-performing crops this season, with deliveries reaching 24 898 tonnes.
Mr Mhiko said the steady increase highlights the importance of climate-smart agriculture and Government’s policy of promoting crops suited to different agro-ecological regions.
“Sorghum continues to prove its value as a climate-smart crop and the steady increase in deliveries is a testament to Government policy of agro-ecological tailoring production,” he said.
With harvesting still underway in some areas, ARDA expects grain deliveries to continue rising over the coming weeks as it works with the GMB to strengthen national food security and build strategic grain reserves through efficient grain collection, transportation and storage.
Colletta Dube