Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
THE Indigenous Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has endorsed Government’s grain import restrictions under Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025, saying the measure will boost local agricultural production, strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imports.
The association’s position follows concerns raised by some players in the grain milling industry over the implementation of the statutory instrument, which requires processors to source at least 40 percent of their grain and oilseed requirements locally.
The threshold is expected to increase to 100 percent by 2028.
In a statement, IGMAZ chairman Mr Tinashe Chiname said the policy was aligned with the Government’s broader import-substitution and food-sovereignty agenda.
“Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025 protects local farmers by enforcing that food processors buy most of their raw ingredients locally and also minimises commodity trading and curbs speculative activity in the sector.”
Mr Chiname said processors were also required to contribute the difference between import and local prices to the Agricultural Revolving Fund, which supports investment and farmer development.
He said revenue generated through the levy framework was already being channelled towards irrigation development and other agricultural infrastructure projects aimed at improving climate resilience and increasing domestic production.
Mr Chiname said Zimbabwe continued to lose large amounts of foreign currency on imports that could be replaced with locally produced goods.
He said indigenous grain millers process more than 900 000 tonnes of maize and a further 300 000 tonnes of traditional grains produced by rural households annually, supporting livelihoods and small-scale milling enterprises across the country.
“We, therefore, fully support Government’s initiatives and policy direction under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, which seeks to protect and promote local grain production, strengthen food security, finance irrigation infrastructure and reduce dependency on imports,” Mr Chiname said.
He urged the Government to maintain policies that support domestic production, industrialisation and value addition as these were critical to achieving the objectives of Vision 2030 and building a resilient economy.
