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'Govt not aware of strategic grain reserves levels'
20 Mar 2015 at 06:34hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT is currently not sure of levels of strategic grain reserves in the country but no less than 300 000 hectares will be written off or it is a complete write off due to the dry spell, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Zimbabwe has for years been supplementing its maize deficits annually through imports particularly from South Africa and Zambia. The country needs 1,4 million tonnes of maize annually for domestic and animal consumption.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Joseph Made told the Senate on Thursday that normally the reserves should from 500 000 to 700 000 metric tonnes.
"The grain reserved in the National Strategic Grain Reserve should range from 500 000 to 700 000 metric tonnes.
"That is what we normally keep as strategic grain reserve. However, as the Hon. Senator might know, our stocks, given the last season where we purchased 220 000 metric tonnes, fall short of that demand. I have already indicated that Government at the moment is preparing the figures that will relate to that importation and do advise that at the appropriate time, I will advise on the quantities of grain importation," said Made in response to Beitbridge Senator Thambudzani Mohadi.
Made said the government is now looking at the First Round Crop Assessment but "indications are however that no less than 300 000 hectares will be written off or it is a complete write off. I will be giving a detailed analysis in the Second Round Crop Assessment."
Zimbabwe has for years been supplementing its maize deficits annually through imports particularly from South Africa and Zambia. The country needs 1,4 million tonnes of maize annually for domestic and animal consumption.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Joseph Made told the Senate on Thursday that normally the reserves should from 500 000 to 700 000 metric tonnes.
"The grain reserved in the National Strategic Grain Reserve should range from 500 000 to 700 000 metric tonnes.
"That is what we normally keep as strategic grain reserve. However, as the Hon. Senator might know, our stocks, given the last season where we purchased 220 000 metric tonnes, fall short of that demand. I have already indicated that Government at the moment is preparing the figures that will relate to that importation and do advise that at the appropriate time, I will advise on the quantities of grain importation," said Made in response to Beitbridge Senator Thambudzani Mohadi.
Made said the government is now looking at the First Round Crop Assessment but "indications are however that no less than 300 000 hectares will be written off or it is a complete write off. I will be giving a detailed analysis in the Second Round Crop Assessment."
Source - Byo24News
