GOVERNMENT has turned to the private sector to assist in sourcing food to cover a serious grain shortage that has been caused by the El Niño-induced drought.
During post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services minister Jenfan Muswere said Zimbabwe had a shortfall of between 598 425 and 1 108 425 tonnes of food based on consumption levels ranging from 7,5kg to 10kg per person per month.
“The Grain Marketing Board stocks as at April 25, 2024 for maize, traditional grains, and strategic grain reserve wheat are 308 139 metric tonnes, including wheat that is available for sale at 122 072 metric tonnes. Cumulatively, the government has 430 211 metric tonnes,” Muswere said.
“The shortfall in grain requirements will be met through imports by the private sector which has indicated the capacity to import 1 000 000 metric tonnes between April 2024 and March 2025 to mitigate the effects of drought.”
He said the government implemented a strategic intervention focused on wheat-based solutions projected to reduce import requirements by 486 000 metric tonnes equivalent to US$189,5 million.
“The wheat-based food security strategic intervention will reduce the import requirement by the government by 486 000 metric tonnes, which is equivalent to US$189,5 million. Sufficient resources will, therefore, be deployed towards the timeous payment for local grain deliveries,” Muswere said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the drought a state of national disaster and appealed for US$2 billion to avert starvation.
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