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Business Writer
Covid-19 induced restrictions are constraining grain movement as millers this year seek to continue importing an estimated 250 000 tonnes of wheat to supplement local production.
Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, countries around the world have promulgated a raft of measures that include national lockdowns, travel restrictions and border closures as part of a broader scope to contain the spread of the disease.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairman Tafadzwa Musarara said the Government has deemed the milling industry an essential service allowing players in the sector to operate 24 hours.
“Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a flurry of legislated restrictions both locally and internationally.
“Primarily this is affecting our grain importation.
“For instance, Botswana government’s tough restrictions have made it impossible to transit maize via Botswana.
“This has consequently, seen again congestion at Beitbridge and slowing down of grain imports,” he said.
Locally, Musarara said the movement of goods and persons are restricted to move between 6AM and 6PM.
“This slows down movement of deliveries nationwide,” said the GMAZ boss.
Following poor harvest Zimbabwe has experienced in recent years due to drought, the milling industry has embarked on a grain importation programme that has seen the country importing maize and wheat in the region and outside Africa in countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.
The country requires 1,8 million tonnes of maize annually.
“We are continuing to establish and execute continuous grain supply pipeline and significant quantities continue to come in.
“In light of the imminent bumper crop, we don’t anticipate any imports of maize.
“However, we will continue to import circa 250 000 metric tonnes of wheat to supplement local production,” said Musarara.
Zimbabwe needs at least 400 000 tonnes of wheat a year to meet its flour demands, a tonnage the ministry is keen to achieve in line with the Government’s Vision 2030 of an upper middle income economy.
The Government has announced the intent to work on the multiplication of wheat seed in preparation for the 2021-2022 summer wheat cropping season.
In the 2020 winter cropping season, farmers planted 45 000 hectares of wheat producing about 100 000 tonnes of the crop.
In the 2019 winter cropping season, wheat farmers produced 90 000 tonnes, leaving a deficit of 310 000 tonnes.
Zimbabwe has been a net importer of wheat prompting Government to come up with a programme to encourage wheat production on all farms with reliable water sources.
Bongani Ndlovu