…as it resumes agro-exports

Staff Reporter

Cabinet informed that Government would export grain, wheat and tobacco to other countries as the country has produced enough for export.

Speaking at a Post Cabinet Brief,   Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa informed that the country had started making negotiations with neighbouring countries so that the country can start exporting its excess agricultural produce.

“The Grain Marketing Board had in stock a total of 204 084 metric tonnes of maize and 41 464 metric tonnes of traditional grains. Millers and stock-feed manufacturers are being allocated 27 000mt, Silo Goods 16 000mt per month an additional 10 000mt will be sold to Rwanda.

“Regarding wheat, the country stocks stand at 140 029 mt. Considering that the country is wheat sufficient, discussions are underway with neighbouring countries on possible wheat exports.

“On tobacco marketing, the country is informed that a country record of 286 872 964kg valued at USD868 864 119 million was sold during the tobacco selling season,” said Minister Mutsvangwa

According to Minister Mutsvangwa, this bumper wheat crop production has been as a result of the resettled farmers.

“Cabinet wishes to highlight that 69.8% of the country’s wheat is being produced by A1 and A2, while the communal farmers contributed 6.95%,” she said.

Furthermore, Government has a Tobacco Transformation Plan that aims to turn tobacco into becoming a 300 million kg with a USD5billion tobacco industry by 2025.

Meanwhile, preparations for the 2023/24 summer crop farming are already underway, with seed sales equivalent to 91 380ha compared to 76 483ha the previous season.