Zim has enough grain to last until next harvest

Theseus Shambare, Harare Bureau

ZIMBABWE has enough grain to feed the nation until the next harvest, while imminent early deliveries of the irrigated maize crop are expected to further boost the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR), a senior Government official has said.

In an interview with our Harare Bureau, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira said the country has enough stocks to see the country through the lean season.

This put paid to recent reports that Zimbabwe only had four months’ supply of grains and might possibly face food shortages this year due to the El Niño weather phenomenon.

“I was shocked to read in the media that we are left with stocks for only four months. Those are misleading statements.
“People should wait for the Government, through the Ministry of Lands, to give the correct figures,” said Deputy Minister Marapira.

“We still have enough grain in our stocks from our summer crop to carry us to the next harvest. On top of that, as we speak, our farmers who have the irrigated crop are already preparing to harvest. We are already counting that to add to our grain reserves.”

The country requires approximately 203 862 tonnes of maize for human consumption until the next harvest.