GOVERNMENT has assured the nation that Zimbabwe has enough mealie-meal to feed the people amid fears of a possible shortage due to the predicted El Nino-induced drought
Zimbabwe and other regional countries are expected to receive normal to below normal rains during the 2023/24 summer rainfall season which could affect the country’s staple maize yield.
Speaking during a tour of the National Foods Holdings Limited facilities in Harare yesterday Lands and Agriculture deputy minister Vangels Haritatos said Zimbabwe had enough grain in stock.
“As a nation we have adequate stocks at the Grain Marketing Board. On a monthly basis we consume about 70 000-75 000 tonnes of maize,” he said.
National Foods also revealed that it had increased production of other food items to offer an alternative to mealie-meal.
“National foods purchased a pasta plant from Italy that produces two tonnes of pasta per hour. Basically, it has increased the availability of commodities,” Haritatos said.
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Lands and Agriculture secretary Obert Jiri also applauded National Foods for promoting agricultural production, while consuming at least 51% of the maize market.
National Foods chief executive officer, Mike Lashbook said: “As a group, the volume (of mealie-meal) is about 50 000 tonnes per month, depending on the year; it is between 500 000 and 600 000 per product.
“The first and biggest on our portfolio is stock feeds, second biggest is flour and the third biggest is mealie-meal, although it depends on the season.”