By Dylan Munashe Dzenga
Harare, Zimbabwe – In a bid to guarantee national food security, Zimbabwe has announced a healthy maize and wheat grain reserve, as the government ramps up preparations for the upcoming summer cropping season. This announcement was made by Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, during a post-Cabinet media briefing held in Harare.
According to a preliminary weather forecast, large parts of Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, are expected to experience below normal to normal rainfall during the 2023/24 cropping season. In light of these projections, the government has taken proactive steps to mitigate potential shortages.
Minister Muswere highlighted that the country’s grain reserves, including wheat, are sufficient to cover the next six months. Efforts are also underway to ensure timely payments to farmers for grain deliveries, in order to mop up all available grain.
“The Grain Marketing Board Stocks as at 24/09/23 for maize stood at 215,000 metric tonnes, traditional grains at 48,026 metric tonnes, and 137,414 metric tonnes of wheat,” Minister Muswere stated. He further added that the wheat stocks would last for a period of six months, with a monthly drawdown rate of 21,000 metric tonnes.
With the projected El Nino season ahead, the private sector has been granted permission to import additional maize and soybeans. Furthermore, the importation of mealie-meal by households will continue duty-free. In terms of winter wheat, a record-breaking 90,192 hectares have been planted, with an estimated volume of 420,000 metric tonnes expected to be harvested. Notably, around 70 percent of the wheat has been grown by A2 (57 percent) and A1 (13 percent) farmers, showcasing the success of the land reform program.
Wheat harvesting has already commenced, with approximately 900 hectares having been harvested to date. Looking ahead to the upcoming cropping season, the government has set a target of 92,000 hectares for grain production. To optimize yield successfully, over 40 percent of the maize seed set aside is of the early to ultra-early maturity varieties.
Minister Muswere emphasized the progress of the National Enhanced Agriculture Production Programme (NEAPS), stating that a target of 92,000 hectares has been set. Additionally, 40.8 percent of the available maize seed is of early to ultra-early maturity. The acceleration of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme is also progressing well, alongside the distribution of inputs across the country.
In terms of water resources, dams across the country are currently 82 percent full. Moreover, 70,316 hectares have been allocated for irrigated maize production, with a potential yield of 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes.
To support the agricultural sector, the government has committed over US$642 million, while the Bankers Association has indicated a commitment of $68 billion and US$160 million for the 2023/24 season.
Regarding rainfall forecasts, Cabinet advised that regions 1, 2, and 3 have a higher probability of receiving normal to below normal rainfall for most of the sub-seasons from October 2023 to March 2024. However, Matabeleland North Province, parts of Midlands covering Gokwe North and South districts, and parts of Matabeleland South province are expected to receive below normal to normal rainfall. The remaining provinces are likely to experience normal rainfall with a bias towards below normal levels.
With these preparations and measures in place, Zimbabwe aims to ensure food security and minimize the impact of potential rainfall deficits on agricultural production.