Nkosentsha Khumalo
Revelations state that the Government of Zimbabwe has successfully distributed 17 421 metric tonnes of maize meal, the country’s staple food, to schools under the Emergency School Feeding Programme, an initiative of the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme.
With this massive distribution triumph, the Government aims to combat hunger and malnutrition in schools and to promote nutrition among the citizens.
The new revelations were brought to light during the latest post cabinet briefing which gave the update on the 2023/2024 Summer Crops Marketing, Food Security Outlook to March 2025, 2024 Winter Crops Production and the 2024/2025 Crops Summer Season Plan, as presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable A.J. Masuka.
According to the latest Post cabinet briefing, the Government has distributed 17 421 metric tonnes of mealie-meal to
schools under the Emergency Schools Feeding Programme since the beginning of the 3rd Term, with a view of ensuring learners get a decent meal on each school day.
Masuka revealed that the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to date has also received a total of 20 148 metric tonnes of maize, soyabeans, sorghum and sunflower from the El Nino-ravaged 2023/2024 summer season.
It was further revealed that the private sector has imported 974 658 metric tonnes of maize, wheat and wheat flour since the 1st April 2024, and that the Government of Zimbabwe has also imported 39 916 metric tonnes of maize.
The total Strategic Grain Reserve stock stands at 244 296 metric tonnes.
“Pertaining to the ongoing Food Deficit Mitigation Programme, cumulatively, Government has distributed 197,628.796 metric tonnes of grain to feed the vulnerable and food insecure households since February 2024.
“Regarding 2024 winter wheat production, a record wheat crop has been harvested to date. As at November 1, 2024, about 106 238 hectares had been harvested, giving a total of 518 502 metric tonnes of wheat, surpassing the 465 546 metric tonnes achieved in 2023. To date, 75 000 metric tonnes of wheat has been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board. The remarkable performance of the winter wheat programme attests to the foresight, planning and organizational dexterity of His Excellency the President, Cde. E.D. Mnangagwa.”
“Harvesting is proceeding using over 291 configured combine harvesters and more than 550 000 metric tonnes of wheat is expected.
The 2024/2025 Summer Season Plan aims to increase production of cereals to 3 274 200 metric tonnes, against the 744 271 metric tonnes obtained during the 2023/2024 summer season. The overall production volumes of major crops are expected to increase by 347% from a mere 915 000 metric tonnes to over 4 million metric tonnes.
The production target for cereals is 3.3 million metric tonnes, while that for pulses is 819 500 metric tonnes.
Post cabinet revelations are that under the Presidential Input Schemes, 91% of the targeted 9.5 million plots have been prepared by 86% of the targeted 3.5 million households.
All beneficiaries will receive 50% of their inputs by 24th November, 2024.
Government has adopted additional measures to curb the abuse of inputs. The measures include the blacklisting any official involved in input abuse; banning ward committees involved in inputs abuse; and implementing an improved Standard Operating Procedure with role clarity.
It was revealed that the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme will establish a total of 52 500 hectares under maize, soyabean, traditional grains and sunflower, with a target to produce 256 000 metric tonnes.
The private sector has also undertaken to fund establishment of 95 046 hectares of maize, soyabeans, potatoes, sugar beans and sunflower.
The ARDA facility will plant 100 000 hectares under maize and 50 000 hectares of traditional grains. The private sector support for cotton targets 418 800 farmers to plant 270 000 hectares under cotton.
The target tobacco production for the 2024/2025 season is 300 million kilogrammes, and to date, over 117 000 growers have registered.
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