The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE has 2,2 million tonnes needed to feed its population until the next season regardless of the mid-season drought that led to a decrease in projected cereal production, it has been established.
Although not enough to sustain strategic grain reserves of 500 000 tonnes, the country has a surplus of 100 000 tonnes of maize.
In an interview with The Manica Post last week, Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Dr John Basera said although the country was experiencing grain deficits in certain areas, there was no need to press the panic button as the nation had adequate stocks to feed the population until the next season.
Zimbabwe recorded a bumper harvest of 2,7 million tonnes during the 2020-21 season, which put the country firmly on a path to food security, and for the first time in three years enabled the country to maintain a minimum strategic grain reserve of 500 000 tonnes.
This was Zimbabwe’s biggest maize yield since the 1984/85 marketing season.
The bumper harvest was attributed to an expansion in hectrage, Government’s inputs subsidies and favourable weather conditions.
As a result, Government terminated the issuance of import permits for grain as supply exceeded local demand.
However, a poor start to the 2021/22 season and erratic rainfall resulted in below-average harvests in Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
The rains received in March and April came too late to save crops in most regions in the country, especially the south-eastern and south-western districts where most crops had already suffered significant moisture stress and were complete write-offs.
High input costs also weighed down the season.
Dr Basera said Government has now lifted the maize and wheat import bans to allow the milling industry and stock feed manufacturers to import grain.
He said President Mnangagwa has directed the ministry to ensure that no one starves.
In line with President Mnangagwa’s directive, the ministry is putting in place an efficient distribution system to move grain from areas with surplus to those with deficits.
“As a country we do not have grain shortages. The total production of grain this season is 1,8 million tonnes plus the 0,5 million tonnes which are in the strategic grain reserves from the previous season. This will add to 2.3 million tonnes against a national demand of 2,2 million tonnes. In other words, we actually have a surplus of 100 000 tonnes.
“The surplus is, however, not enough to maintain our strategic grain reserves, and obviously we will need more, especially in light of what is happening in Eastern Europe. We need more in our reserves and that is why we have lifted the ban on grain imports. We are allowing those with free funds to import grain,” said Dr Basera.
“Certainly we have some areas with grain deficits, but in the same vein we also have some areas with surplus grain.
“We need an efficient distribution system to move grain from area with surplus grain to those with a deficit in line with the President’s directive to ensure that no one starves,” said Dr Basera.
The maize producer price for the 2022 season was set at $58 553 per tonne, up from $32 000 per tonne during the 2021 marketing season.
The price for traditional grains was set at $70 263.90 per tonne, soyabean ($125 530.17 per tonne) and sunflower ($150 686.20 per tonne).
