ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe has enough maize and traditional grains stock to satisfy the local needs until the upcoming harvests in April, according to government’s statement.
Dr Jenfan Muswere, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister provided the update after the Cabinet meeting held on February 6, the first of 2024.
“Cabinet wishes to assure the nation that there will be enough grain before the commencement of the next maize or traditional grains intake in April 2024.”
Dr Muswere said Zimbabwe produced 2.57 million tonnes of maize and traditional grains during the last 2022-2023 season. According to the minister, the stiocks are enough since the country requires 2.2 million tonnes of this maize or traditional grains, 1.8 million tonnes for food and 400 000 tonnes for stock feed.
“This translates to 6 027 tonnes daily, with 4 931 tonnes going towards human consumption. The monthly human consumption requirement is 150 000 tonnes,” said Dr Muswere.
The update was deduced from the update on summer crops presented to cabinet by Dr Anxious Masuka, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister.
According to the report, a total of 11 932 505 plots which are equivalent to 744 588 hectares had been prepared under the Climate-Proofed Presidential Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme by 20 November 2023.
The acreage, according to the report, is higher that the 5 867 292 plots equivalent to 366 706 hectares planted in November 2022 and 4 602 209 plots equivalent to 287 640 hectares by November 2021.
This is a reflection that farmers are adopting the recommended climate-proofing interventions, especially during the El Nino condition,” the report stated.
As a result, the ministry predicts a cumulative 2 283 272 tonnes of maize and 271 623 tonnes of traditional grains from the planted area.
The prediction comes after the recent announcement by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube that maize harvest in the north African country would halve to 1.1 million tonnes in 2024 due to an El Nino-induced drought.
According to Mr. Ncube, this climatic phenomenon, which returned in July 2023 for the first time in 7 years, is expected to continue until April 2024, influencing weather conditions with warmer weather and below-average precipitation, according to the data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
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