News / National
Zimbabwe imports maize from SA
04 Feb 2014 at 18:23hrs | Views
Communities in drought prone areas in Matabeleland, Masvingo and some parts of the Midlands provinces that have been experiencing food shortages are set to receive grain with the government announcing it has imported 150 000 metric tonnes of maize.
Government says it has moved in to avert food shortages in areas such as Zaka, Chiredzi, Binga, Hwange and Chivi, among others by importing 150 000 metric tonnes of maize from South Africa.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister (Crops, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development), Davis Marapira said the grain will be distributed through the grain loan scheme at a cost of $25 for a 50 kgs bag.
15 000 tonnes will be given to the Department of Social Welfare to cater for disadvantaged members of society.
"As we speak, maize is being delivered to various depots across the country and we are hoping that the situation will become bearable for the affected communities," said Marapira.
While some media reports have indicated that Zimbabwe is expecting a bumper harvest this season, Marapira said such a fact can only be verified by the end of March.
"As of now, we cannot talk about a bumper harvest as farmers are still busy on their fields," he said.
Though the rains have been good, there were fears that Zimbabwe can still have food shortages as farmers are preferring to plant cash crops such as tobacco which is lucrative.
This season 70 percent of the crops that were planted by farmers countrywide are food crops while 30 percent are cash crops.
Zimbabwe needs more than 2 million tonnes of maize every year and an additional 500 000 tonnes as strategic reserves.
Government says it has moved in to avert food shortages in areas such as Zaka, Chiredzi, Binga, Hwange and Chivi, among others by importing 150 000 metric tonnes of maize from South Africa.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister (Crops, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development), Davis Marapira said the grain will be distributed through the grain loan scheme at a cost of $25 for a 50 kgs bag.
15 000 tonnes will be given to the Department of Social Welfare to cater for disadvantaged members of society.
"As we speak, maize is being delivered to various depots across the country and we are hoping that the situation will become bearable for the affected communities," said Marapira.
While some media reports have indicated that Zimbabwe is expecting a bumper harvest this season, Marapira said such a fact can only be verified by the end of March.
"As of now, we cannot talk about a bumper harvest as farmers are still busy on their fields," he said.
Though the rains have been good, there were fears that Zimbabwe can still have food shortages as farmers are preferring to plant cash crops such as tobacco which is lucrative.
This season 70 percent of the crops that were planted by farmers countrywide are food crops while 30 percent are cash crops.
Zimbabwe needs more than 2 million tonnes of maize every year and an additional 500 000 tonnes as strategic reserves.
Source - zbc
