US$6 million availed for wheat farmers

Business Reporter

THE country has 62 793 tons of wheat stocks that constitutes three-month cover while US$6 million has been availed for paying farmers for crops delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Cabinet has heard.

A record 80 000 hectares were put under winter wheat this year up from 66 436 hectares last year and the Government is confident of satisfying national wheat requirements for a year, official figures show.

Zimbabwe is targeting self-sufficiency in wheat production and is expected to produce more than 383 000 metric tons.

Zimbabwe needs at least 400 000 tons of wheat per year to meet its flour demand, according to official estimates.

The Russia/Ukraine conflict has disrupted exports as the two countries supply a third of the world’s wheat.

In a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, gave national status update on maize and wheat stocks at the GMB.

“Cabinet advises that the Grain Marketing Board maize stocks stood at 435 489 metric tons as at 25th August, 2022 while traditional grain stocks are standing at 64 716 metric tons. The total wheat stocks in the country amount to 62 793 metric tons,” she said.

“The wheat in the country provides three months cover at an allocation rate of 21 000 metric tons per month.”

Zimbabwe has over the years been over-reliant on wheat and flour imports amid subdued domestic production, which has exposed the economy to global shocks occasioned by supply chain disruptions linked to Covid-19, climate change dynamics and now the Russia Ukraine conflict.

This has seen the market reacting, through incessant price hikes, which have seen a loaf of bread soaring to above $700 or US$1,20 and intermittent shortages in response to global supply turbulence — in the process piling pressure on the domestic consumer.

The minister said during the reporting period, a total of 131 139 metric tons of grain had been received by the Grain Marketing Board.

“Cumulative sales from 1 April 2022 stood at $17 673 139 070. The nation is informed that a total of $6,82 billion and US$6 million was received for farmer payments to date. A total of $762 978  845,46 and US$5 106 280,00 is outstanding to farmers,” she said.