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He said the food would be directed to the Grain Marketing Board where the rice and wheat would be swapped for maize.
The maize would be distributed to affected wards.
“We very deeply appreciate the support from China,” said Dr Made.
“We are working closely with the Chinese on agricultural-related projects to strengthen our capacity to become self-sufficient in terms of production.”
“Globally, we have the food, but there are a number of pockets that are under pressure. We want to make sure that we look after such communities.”
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Dr Made said GMB was holding almost 440 000 tonnes of strategic grain, which was ready to be moved to areas that need the food.
He said it was important that programmes such as Food for Work were functional to ensure that people have funds to buy the grain.
Vulnerable children and the elderly, Dr Made said, would get assistance from the latest batch of food from China.
Statistics show that approximately 50 000 households in Zimbabwe are headed by children under the age of 18 mainly orphaned by HIV and Aids.
Dr Made said to ensure food security, issues of inputs, payment of farmers and availability of electricity should be add-ressed.
He said Zimbabwe had in the past received more food commodities from China.
Zimbabwe was failing to fully exploit its potential in agriculture because of illegal sanctions imposed by Western countries, Dr Made said.
The Government recently released 50 000 tonnes of maize for free distribution to the poor as part of measures to avert hunger in some rural areas.
Areas worst affected by food shortages include those in the Matabeleland region, Masvingo, parts of the Midlands and parts of Mashonaland East.
China is working with Zimbabwe in numerous sectors, with assistance coming in both financial and material forms.
The Asian country is establishing an agricultural demonstration centre at Gwebi Agricultural College.
The centre, which would be supported by Chinese grants in the first three years, would be transferred to the Zimbabwean Government after 15 years of operation.
Online Reporter