Govt Assures Nation on Food Security

Rutendo Mazhindu
Zim Now Reporter

The government has assured the nation that current grain stocks at the Grain Marketing Board are sufficient to meet the needs of rural communities until the next harvest, expected in April 2025.

This was revealed during a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, where the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Jongwe Masuka, provided an update on food security and the 2024/2025 summer cropping season.

Dr. Masuka reported that between April 2024 and February 2025, the private sector imported 1,349,877 metric tonnes of grain. This included 1,127,411 metric tonnes of maize, 220,092 metric tonnes of wheat, and 374 metric tonnes of wheat flour.

To support food security efforts, 1,021 maize import permits have been issued to facilitate the importation of five million metric tonnes of maize.

"The government is closely monitoring import volumes, stock levels at millers, import prices, and sources to eliminate any arbitrage opportunities," Dr. Masuka said.

The 2024/2025 summer cropping plan aims to boost cereal production to 3.2 million metric tonnes, a significant increase from the 744,000 metric tonnes produced in the previous season.

Preliminary data indicates that 99 percent of the targeted maize area has already been planted. The Zimbabwe Statistics-led First Round Crops, Livestock, and Fisheries Assessment is being finalized to provide a clearer picture of the planting progress.

The Presidential Input Scheme has exceeded expectations, with 11.4 million plots planted—20 percent above the initial target of 9.5 million plots and 16 percent higher than the previous season's 9.8 million plots.

Cotton farming has also expanded significantly, with the total planted area reaching 203,875 hectares, a 40 percent increase from last season's 145,265 hectares. The number of registered cotton growers has risen to 127,000, marking a 10 percent increase from last season's 115,000 growers, with 92 percent participating under contract farming.

Dr. Masuka highlighted that tobacco merchants are supporting their contracted farmers with maize and sorghum inputs under the Tobacco Food Security Initiatives.

The total area planted with tobacco now stands at 132,851 hectares, reflecting a 16 percent increase from the 2023/2024 season.