By Kuda Pembere
In an effort to ensure national food security while lessening the consequences of the drought caused by El Nino, Zimbabwe has loosened restrictions on the importation of grains at the household level.
Addressing a post cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said Government is currently implementing some measures to protect Zimbabweans from hunger.
Cabinet wishes to advise the nation that in light of the El-Nino-induced drought, various measures are being instituted to guarantee food security for all and ensure that no one dies of hunger.
“Among other issues considered, Cabinet discussed the importance of considering more hectarage for growing rice in view of increased rice consumption by the citizens,” he said.
He added that Cabinet also emphasized the need to support and promote local wheat production for direct consumption for a swap with maize in order to meet maize demand for the nation.
Cabinet approved the Food Security Outlook Report to March 2025 to facilitate winter cereals production planning.
The Zimbabwean Cabinet also acknowledged the food security strategy based on the comparative and competitive advantages of wheat this winter.
Cabinet also approved that the consumption of 7.5kg per person per month be used immediately for social welfare and be adjusted after October to 8.5kg per person per month and the purchase of local grain at import parity price of US$390 per tonne in-order to mop up excess local grain.
Dr Muswere also announced the removal of duty on imported rice and potato seed as well as the duty-free importation of maize, rice and cooking oil by households with effect from July 2024. He also said there will be importation of Genetically Modified maize for stock feed, under strict supervised milling and distribution.
The Grain Mobilization committee, according to the Information Minister bounces back to do some reconciliation, while determining how much grain is needed to tackle the drought challenge.
According to Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka the forecast for food security consists of four elements namely, what is currently in stock, what is anticipated to be produced during the present season, what is anticipated to be produced during the winter, and what is anticipated to be imported.
“This is what we deliberated; we said the private sector must continue to import maize for human consumption, we said if they wish to import genetically modified maize they can do so but that must be under strict supervision.
“Zimbabwe was one of the first countries in the SADC region to put in place a GMO (genetically modified organism) policy in 1998 and formed the National Biotechnology Authority, and Zimbabwe allows GMOs to be imported because we have a very strict framework. Perhaps because of the strictness, very few private companies have actually come on board to do some experiments on GMOs.
“In the past we have applied this model very successfully. It is genetically modified maize not GMO maize. We said that our food security ought also to be premised on consideration of wheat as a cereal crop, either for direct consumption by people as bread or as a mealie meal or for swap arrangement,” said Dr Masuka.
