By Staff Writer
LANDS and Agriculture Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka Tuesday told Cabinet that the country has a 10,2 months long maize stock.
The remarks come on the back of an excruciating El-Nino induced drought which is threatening the country to backslide into a period of hunger in the coming year.
Against the background, several government critics have questioned why authorities are taking time to declare a national disaster and subsequently mobilise adequate resources to avoid a last minute rush which may be catastrophic for the ordinary folk.
But briefing Cabinet ,Masuka informed the nation that as at 10 December, 2023, the Grain Marketing Board had in stock a total of 235 095 metric tons of grain, comprising 188 353 metric tonnes of maize and 46 742 metric tons of traditional grains.
“At the prevailing monthly consumption rate of 23 000 metric tonnes per month, the available grain will last 10.2 months.
“Regarding wheat, the country’s current stocks stand at 242 508 metric tonnes, which are sufficient to provide 11.5 months cover at a monthly drawdown rate of 21 000 metric tons,” he said.
He highlighted that the GMB has a 46,8% market share of maize, 7,3% of soya bean, 41,3 % sunflower, wheat 46%, 63,6% of traditional grains, translating to 39,4% share of the total marketed crop.
“A total of 313 719 metric tons, comprising 186 341 metric tonnes of maize, 121 549 metric tons of wheat and 5 829 metric tonnes of wheat flour were impoled by the private sector between 1 April and 3 December,
“ A cumulative 1 710.0 metric tons of maize at an average price of US$310 per metric tonne, 262.98 metric tonnes of soya beans at an average price of US$500 per metric tonne, and 234.82 metric tons of wheat at an average price of USD400 per metric tons have been marketed through the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX),” he said.
He added that a total of 31 warehouses have been registered under the Warehouse Receipt System.
