Rudo Saungweme

In a move to mitigate shortages in view of the poor 2018/19 agricultural season due to the El Nino induced drought, Government has constituted a Grain Importation Operational Taskforce headed by Grain Marketing Board's Chief Executive, Rockie Mutenha.

"The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has constituted a Grain Importation Operational Taskforce headed by GMB's representatives from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and the Ministry of Rural Resettlement," revealed the source on condition of anonymity.

The source also revealed that GMB will import 775 000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of maize at an estimated cost of US$284 million.

"The plans to import 775 000 MT of maize at an estimated cost of US$284 million are proving to be fruitful. As at April 2019, stocks in the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) were estimated at 611 375 MT," said the source.

The source revealed that the grain utility is targeting to import 86 000 MT per month so that it meets the demand of the required grain in the country.

"Supplies of grain will be sourced from Brazil and Argentina at a landed cost of US$340 to US$360 per MT. The grain utility is targeting to import 86 000 MT per month," he said.

The source said that part of the grain is to be distributed to vulnerable groups; the remaining would be used by GMB's in its trading business.

"Part of the maize would be distributed to vulnerable groups, some would be used as throughput for GMB's trading business," revealed the source.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has also assured the nation last month that as a result of this year’s drought, considerable quantities of grain in the country's Strategic Grain Reserves will be availed so that noone will die from hunger.