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GMB imports over 350 000 tonnes of grain in 3 months
The Herald (Zimbabwe)
August 22, 2005

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=46184&pubdate=2005-08-22

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has imported more than 350 000 tonnes of grain in the last three months to meet the country’s food requirements.

More supply routes have been opened while several suppliers have been contracted to ensure the required 1,8 million tonnes of grain are met to feed the nation until July next year following last season’s crippling drought.

Acting GMB chief executive officer Retired Colonel Samuel Muvuti said supply routes through Maputo, Beira, Beitbridge, Plumtree and Nyamapanda were open.

Road, rail and sea transport were being used to bring maize to the ports and into the country.

"A ship carries about 30 000 tonnes, making it easy for us to cover areas like Mashonaland West and nearby areas. We are well-networked and we intend to import grain at the rate of 120 000 tonnes per month," he said in an interview.

Rtd Col Muvuti, however, said logistical problems affected deliveries but expressed optimism that by the end of this month or early next month, GMB would be able to meet monthly targets.

Fuel problems and impassable roads sometimes hampered their efforts.

He implored the Government agency responsible for the construction of roads to play its part to ensure all needy people received grain.

GMB has intensified depot expansion for distribution and for buying the next harvest and 30 milling sites have so far been set up, 10 milling sheds having been completed while another 10 sheds were in the process of being constructed, he said.

Some of the areas where the construction of milling sheds is in progress include, Mutawatawa, Hwedza, Murombedzi, Kotwa, Barzely Bridge, Nyika, Mvurwi, Chivi among others and existing depots were being refurbished and all that was to ensure that GMB fulfilled its mandate — that of ensuring food security in the country.

Rtd Col Muvuti said depots were also being opened in such arid areas as Tsholotsho, Beitbridge, Lupane, Hwange and Chivi, adding that they have been urging people in those areas to grow drought-resistant crops such as millet, rapoko and sorghum.

Another area that has been a cause for concern is Murambinda Growth Point that has impassable roads, especially the Murambinda-Birchenough Road.

Rtd Col Muvuti said a milling plant would soon be set up to assist people in the area who have been complaining of not getting maize meal.

He said GMB would engage all stakeholders, including the rural district council in finding a solution.

"We are currently constructing permanent structures in all our depots as cabins gives an impression of temporary and these permanent structures would also enable us to electrify and computerise our operations to allow data capturing, and consequently be able to pay farmers promptly" said Rtd Col Muvuti.

"We are also buying motor vehicles to enable our depot managers to be mobile and we are recruiting production managers, people with immense agricultural knowledge and would be visiting farmers in their fields."

Zimbabwe consumes an average of 1,8 million tonnes per year and the Government has since assured the nation that no person would die as a result of the drought as all efforts would be made to mitigate the effects of drought.

To help boost the next harvest, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will avail foreign currency to seed companies for the importation of maize seed to ensure there is enough seed for the coming season, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Cde Sylvester Nguni has said.

The deputy minister told Parliament last week that the Government was working with the central bank on modalities of releasing the funds to the seed companies.

Cde Nguni was responding to a question by Kambuzuma Member of Parliament Mr Willas Madzimure (MDC) during a question and answer session.

The opposition lawmaker wanted to know what measures the Government had put in place to ensure that there were adequate inputs for the coming season.

Cde Nguni said local seed companies had a capacity to produce about 26 000 tonnes of maize seed which were far below the national requirements.

The central bank said last week it had concluded a framework that would enable the country to import all its maize seed requirements before the onset of the rainy season.

Seed Co Limited — one of the leading seed distributors in the country — has put in place plans to import 7 000 tonnes of maize seed from the region.

Traditionally, Zimbabwe requires about 80 000 tonnes of seed but following the land reform programme the demand for the maize seed has risen to between 150 000 and 200 000 tonnes.

Turning to fertiliser supplies, Cde Nguni said availability would depend on the foreign currency allocated for imports.

"Until we have the necessary foreign currency made available to import fertiliser, we will not have adequate fertiliser," he said.

The country needs about 800 000 tonnes of compound D and 700 000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate every season but the local industry produced about 450 000 tonnes of either compound D or AN.

The local fertiliser manufacturing industry was said to be operating at 60 percent capacity owing to several factors that included defective machinery and lack of foreign currency to import the necessary inputs.

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