Zimbabwe has 1 year grains stock- Cabinet

Zimbabwe’s cabinet received a report that detailed the country’s grain stock as meeting 11.3 months worth of consumption as the country nears it’s seasonal farming season.

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Hon. Dr. Anxious J. Masuka, stated to cabinet that subsequent to the continued delivery of maize from the 2021/2022 season reaching close to 170 000 metric tons a stock enough for 11.3 months had accumulated. “Using this monthly consumption rate of 49 294 metric tonnes, the available grain will last for 11.3 months. A total of 6 502 metric tonnes of maize were delivered to GMB during the first week of October 2022. The maize deliveries to GMB for the 2021/2022 season have now reached 168 897 metric tonnes.” The Chairperson of the Post Cabinet Brief, Monica Mutsvangwa highlighted.

The stock comprised of small grains and traditional grains had advantaged social welfare deliveries while forecast for consumption was close to 50 000 metric tons.

“The nation is being informed that the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) grain stocks as at 9 October, 2022 stood at 557 476 metric tonnes comprising 482 078 metric tonnes of maize and 75 398 metric tonnes of traditional grains. Social welfare consumption is now budgeted at 24 295 metric tonnes per month, while total consumption per month is forecast at 49 294 metric tonnes.”

The Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said. In terms of payment to farmers, “Treasury has so far availed a total of ZW$14.4 billion and US$16.4 million for farmer payments. A total of ZW$8.4 billion and US$5.3 million is outstanding to farmers.”

On the other hand, “Current wheat stocks stand at 65 490 metric tonnes, and this will provide 2.6 months’ cover at a consumption rate of 21 000 metric tonnes per month. Harvesting of the 2022 Winter wheat crop is gathering pace in many parts of the country.” Food sustainability remains a key pillar in not meeting the first sustainable development goal, poverty eradication, but a dependable pillar in broadly achieving all 17 sustainable development goal.