Staff Reporter
Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the country’s agricultural landscape and ensure food security through the 2024/2025 Summer Season Plan.
Speaking after the post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, highlighted the nation’s progress in addressing food security challenges while setting bold targets for the upcoming season.
Dr. Muswere reported that the Strategic Grain Reserve currently holds 245 052 metric tonnes of wheat, maize, and traditional grains, a stock sufficient to meet the projected consumption of 241 089 metric tonnes required for programs such as the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme, Zunde RaMambo, and the School Feeding Programme through March 2025.
“The existing total stock in the Strategic Grain Reserve, comprising wheat, maize, and traditional grains, amounts to 245 052 metric tonnes (MT). The projected consumption through the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme, Zunde RaMambo, and the School Feeding Programme for the period December 2024 to March 2025 is 241 089,”said Minister Muswere.
This robust reserve is complemented by the private sector, which continues to import grain for commercial purposes and stock feed to mitigate drought impacts.
He also celebrated a record wheat harvest of 563,961 metric tonnes, significantly surpassing the 465 548 metric tonnes achieved in 2023.
The Minister said that trucks from the Grain Marketing Board have been actively distributing stock feed, reinforcing the country’s agricultural resilience during this critical period.
Dr. Muswere reiterated Government’s unwavering commitment to sustainable development, describing the Second Republic’s focus on people-centred initiatives as the cornerstone of national progress.
The comprehensive agricultural strategies, which include bolstering productivity, enhancing infrastructure, and empowering rural communities, are aligned with the country’s vision to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030.
The Minister added that to strengthen resilience, the establishment of Ward Drought Mitigation Centres is underway, with 43% of the targeted 1,035 wards now operational. These centres are set to provide localised support to farmers and address the challenges posed by climate variability.
The 2024/2025 Summer Season Plan sets an ambitious production target of 3.3 million metric tonnes of cereals, a dramatic increase from the 744 271 metric tonnes harvested during the previous season.
Total crop production is projected to exceed 4 million metric tonnes, with 819 500 metric tonnes expected from pulses alone.
Dr. Muswere emphasised that progress is already visible, with over 746 238 hectares of maize planted under various support programs, achieving 41.5% of the national target.
Farmers are being encouraged to follow agronomic advice from AGRITEX, while the Meteorological Services Department has predicted normal to above-normal rainfall for the coming months.
