GOVERNMENT has given the greenlight to individuals and
corporates with free funds to import any quantities of grain into the country
to complement Treasury efforts in ensuring adequate food reserves.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement
Minister, Retired Air Chief Marshall Perrance Shiri, said those intending to do
so can obtain the required licensing from relevant authorities.
“All those who want to import grain are free to do so, be
it for domestic consumption or resale. It is up to the individual. Import
licences can be secured from the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture. There is no
limit to the amount of grain you can import into the country,” he said.
“One will actually be complementing Government efforts by
importing grain. If there is anyone who intends to import, they are most
welcome to do so and they can approach AMA for the necessary licences.
“Licences can easily be availed so that those with free
funds can actually import grain into the country.”
The intervention comes at a time Zimbabwe has suffered
reduced yields as a result of drought experienced in the last season.
The country needs an estimated 800 000 tonnes of maize
imports to cover the gap up to the next harvesting season, and Government has
assured the nation that no one will starve.
The country, whose national grain requirements stand at 1,8
million tonnes, will be importing the bulk of the maize from Southern African
countries. The National Railways of Zimbabwe has already started bringing in
part of the grain consignment imported from Tanzania.
Although Government had earlier banned private grain sales
and restricted the business to GMB, the Minister explained that all Government
efforts regarding grain imports were informed by the fact that the country did
not get enough cereals or grain last season due to drought, hence the need to
prioritise allocations.
“As a result, Government has had to put into place
arrangements for the importation of grain. The grain that is being imported
shall be for human, livestock consumption and other industrial uses.
“Government is one such buyer and supplier of cereals,
there is nothing which stops all other players in the industry from importing
their own cereal requirements,” Minister Shiri said.
He noted that while Government was seized with grain
allocations to those in critical need for human consumption, farmers could
access some spoilt grain from GMB, which may not necessarily be suitable for
human consumption but could be used as livestock feed.
Minister Shiri revealed the new guidelines while responding
to questions during a Senate sitting session in Harare last week.
This was after Senator Elias Mudzuri had sought clarity on
Government policy regarding sustainability of small stock industries such as
piggery and poultry.
Sen Mudzuri had argued that farmers were unable to access
grain for purposes of animal feed at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots.
The Upper House discussed the urgent need to also
prioritise stockfeed and noted in particular concerns over livestock death
mainly in the southern parts of the country. Members suggested that Government
sets aside a portion of grain reserves to assist the livestock sector, which is
a critical arm of the economy.
Farmers were also urged to embark on an exercise of
harvesting hay and using it to supplement the requirements of cattle feed.
Herald
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