Staff Reporter

Cabinet has assured the nation that the country has enough grains to cater for everyone until the next harvest.

In a post cabinet media briefing yesterday, the acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Servi

ces, Jenfan Muswere said the available grain in the country will last for the next 11 months.

“Cabinet advises that the grain stocks at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) as at 27 November 2022 stood at 555 504 metric tonnes comprising 477 059 metric tonnes of maize and 78 445 metric tonnes of traditional grains.  Using the monthly consumption rate of 49 294 metric tonnes, the available grain will last for 11.3 months. In general, the grain situation shows that the country remains food secure,” said Minister Muswere.

The Minister added that wheat stocks at GMB stood at 174 072 metric tonnes and this would provide for 8.2 months’ cover at a consumption rate of 21 000 metric tonnes per month.

At the same media briefing, Minister Muswere advised that the country continues to be in the normal to above-normal rainfall category, despite the reduced rainfall activity experienced during the past week. He added that most areas across the country have received rainfall expected at this time of the year.

According to Minister Muswere, inputs distribution, registration and training on Pfumvudza/Intwasa was in progress, with distribution continuing to be done according to agro-ecological zone requirements.

Minister Muswere further informed that 82 percent (58 958 metric tonnes) of the received basal fertilizer has been distributed across the provinces, while 69 percent (14 297 metric tonnes) of the received top dressing fertiliser have also been distributed.

Meanwhile, under the Government’s National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), both Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and CBZ banks have commenced registering farmers, with inputs being availed to famers.