Made fears for seed maize

Agriculture Reporter
The Grain Marketing Board should quickly move 10 000 tonnes of maize to hunger-stricken areas before people start consuming seed given to them for planting, the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made has said. There are fears that hunger-stricken communities might start consuming seed maize being distributed under the Government Input Scheme if the grain deficit is not urgently addressed.

Cabinet recently ordered GMB to move 10 000 tonnes of maize to Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Masvingo and some parts of Manicaland, which are the most affected.

Dr Made said GMB was taking long to move the grain to deficit areas and beneficiaries of the Government input programme may wash the seed for consumption.

GMB has been complaining of transport challenges to move maize to areas of deficit.
“China donated rice and wheat and Matabeleland North is yet to collect its consignment. Efforts are underway to transport the consignments to those areas. I want to emphasise that we will also move with speed to bring part of the 150 000 tonnes of maize that was imported from Zambia,” he said.

Zimbabwe has so far received more than 19 000 tonnes of maize from Zambia and the remaining stock is on its way.
“Once the food has reached the areas, it should be distributed to the households in need and attention should be given to schools and other institutions,” he said.

Zimbabwe was affected by poor rains last year, which caused serious food shortages.