Business / Local
Bulawayo milling industry eyes rebound
04 Jan 2017 at 18:47hrs | Views
Bulawayo milling industry is eyeing a rebound on the back of current investments, re-tooling initiatives and the support measures from government meant to promote local production.
Bulawayo milling industry which has been the hardest hit owing to the influx of imports on the domestic market is eyeing a rebound owing to current capital injections by major players and the interventions by treasury meant to promote local production.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara said there is optimism among players in the southern region of a recovery with some eyeing to diversify into contract farming.
According to the millers' representative body, the sub-sector remains committed to procure 800 000 tonnes of maize under the Command Agriculture Programme with companies in Bulawayo expected to get the bigger chunk of the targeted grain.
The milling industry has in the past seen the number of producers shrinking, from 368 in 2007 to 37 in 2016 due to competition from wheat flour imported from the region under bilateral trade arrangements.
In response, treasury announced the removal of wheat flour from the open general import licence with effect from the 1st of January this year.
Bulawayo milling industry which has been the hardest hit owing to the influx of imports on the domestic market is eyeing a rebound owing to current capital injections by major players and the interventions by treasury meant to promote local production.
Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara said there is optimism among players in the southern region of a recovery with some eyeing to diversify into contract farming.
According to the millers' representative body, the sub-sector remains committed to procure 800 000 tonnes of maize under the Command Agriculture Programme with companies in Bulawayo expected to get the bigger chunk of the targeted grain.
The milling industry has in the past seen the number of producers shrinking, from 368 in 2007 to 37 in 2016 due to competition from wheat flour imported from the region under bilateral trade arrangements.
In response, treasury announced the removal of wheat flour from the open general import licence with effect from the 1st of January this year.
Source - Zbc
