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Harare Bureau
Zimbabwe needs about 1,5 million metric tonnes of maize between October this year and February 2014 to avert hunger and starvation in the country, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Tongai Muzenda said yesterday.The Deputy Minister said this at a ceremony to launch the National Employment Council for the Tobacco Industry HIV and Aids Policy at Boka Tobacco Auction Floors.
“President Mugabe has assured Zimbabweans that no one will die of hunger as the Government has sourced enough grain but approximately 1,5 million tonnes of maize are required to feed people in the affected areas from October this year to February 2014,” he said.
Deputy Minister Muzenda said the Government had sent a GMB team to collect part of the 150 000 metric tonnes that Zambia agreed to supply Zimbabwe following a grain deal that was struck by the two countries this year.
“The 150 000 tonnes we secured from Zambia is not enough to feed the affected people in the country,’ he said.
“The Government will have to import more maize to augment the supplies.”
He said first priority would be given to drought-prone districts in the southern part of the country.
“Matabeleland South and North, Masvingo, Manicaland and part of Midlands were the worst affected by the successive poor harvests and were therefore prioritised in the distribution of the imported maize,” he said.
“Other parts of Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West which were affected by the drought, would also be prioritised.”
Grain Marketing Board general manager Mr Albert Mandizha said his organisation was distributing 3 000 tonnes of maize at present in drought-prone areas in the southern region.
He said 11 000 tonnes had been delivered since last week following a cash injection by the new Government.
Matabeleland South has received 385 tonnes out of the 630 tonnes allocated while Manicand got 440 tonnes and Matabeleland North 314 tonnes.
Mr Mandizha said more grain imports were needed to augment the 10 000 tonnes that were being held in the national grain strategic reserves.
According to a 2012 final Government crop assessment report, 45 percent of the planted 1 689 786 hectares of maize was a write off in the 2012/13 summer cropping season.
Among the worst affected provinces were Masvingo with 155 484 ha, Midlands with 137 663 ha and Manicaland 94 271 of their maize crops written off.
A 2012 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee Survey (Zimvac), estimated that 1,7 million people in Zimbabwe would require food assistance.
Maize production has generally declined due to successive droughts as well as low maize producer prices which has seen farmers opting to grow lucrative cash crops such as tobacco.
Online Reporter