Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
Agriculture Reporter
THE Government has put in place a range of measures to guarantee that neither people nor livestock starve during the peak of the dry season, even in the country’s most drought-prone areas.
Authorities say Zimbabwe remains food secure following the production of 2.9 million tonnes of grain during the 2024–2025 summer cropping season, supplemented by an anticipated 600 000 tonnes of winter wheat.
Together, this output surpasses the national annual grain requirement of 2.2 million tonnes.
To strengthen distribution, Government is decentralising Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots so that hard-to-reach communities can access grain closer to their homes, reducing transport challenges and ensuring timely deliveries.
The recently upgraded Kwekwe GMB depot, commissioned by President Mnangagwa in May, is already serving as a key redistribution hub to deficit provinces, particularly in Matabeleland.
With seven silos and a total capacity of 56 000 tonnes, the depot is strategically positioned to channel surplus grain from Midlands and Mashonaland provinces to regions that traditionally produce less.
Agricultural Engineering, Mechanisation and Farm Infrastructure Development chief director, Engineer Edwin Zimunga, said deliveries had been encouraging.
“The last time we checked, four of the seven silos were already full, which translates to more than 32 000 tonnes of grain delivered,” he said.
“But we believe more have been delivered by now, considering that these deliveries were from early crop harvests that were dried and stored before farmers moved quickly into winter wheat planting.
“The Kwekwe GMB depot will be critical for Matabeleland, which traditionally produces limited grain.
“With its central location and high-capacity silos, Kwekwe ensures that surplus harvests from the Midlands and Mashonaland provinces can be redistributed where demand outweighs production.”
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Obert Jiri, confirmed that the country had enough to meet both national consumption needs and strategic reserves.
“The country requires 2.2 million tonnes of grain and we managed to produce 2.9 million tonnes last season, made up of maize, millet, sorghum and other small grains.
“So yes, as it stands, we do have enough food for the country. If we add what we produced in winter, we are poised for food sovereignty over and above food security as a country,” he said.
The Government is also prioritising livestock survival in drought-prone areas such as Matabeleland North and South, he added.
Prof Jiri said measures being rolled out include making supplementary stock feed available to farmers and working with communities to protect hay from veld fires, which pose the biggest threat to feed security.
“We are ensuring that farmers have access to supplementary feed so that their cattle and small stock survive the lean months.
“At the same time, we are working with local authorities and communities to protect hay from veld fires, which are the biggest threat to animal feed security,” he said.
