Zimbabwe to start building wheat reserves

The country is planning on using its expected surplus of the grain to build a small strategic reserve as it weans itself from relying on imports in an uncertain world.

Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Anxious Jongwe Masuka earlier said the country would use the anticipated excess to cushion Zimbabwe against future shocks.

Zimbabwe expects to harvest 380,000 tons of wheat, up from about 300,000 tons produced last year, after it set out to overcome food supply problems due to global shortages of grain.

Most African countries including Zimbabwe were hit hard by global shortages and price hikes of grains due to the Russian-Ukraine war.

Masuka said Zimbabwe plans to bump up wheat production to about 420,000 tons next season, giving the country room to keep building its strategic reserve and become an exporter of the grain.

Zimbabwe has relied on imports to balance low local production.

African countries reportedly imported 44% of wheat from Russia and Ukraine. Development Bank has reported a 45% increase in wheat prices on the continent.