Zimbabwe saves $100m in wheat imports

Source: Zimbabwe saves $100m in wheat imports | Sunday Mail (Local News)

Tanyaradzwa Rusike and Lorraine Matimbe

Zimbabwe is set to save at least $100 million in wheat imports in the next four months following steady deliveries of the cereal from last winter’s production that have hit 150 000 metric tonnes.

More wheat is expected to trickle into the Grain Marketing Board depots ahead of the season’s delivery March 31 cut-off date.

Zimbabwe requires about 400 000 metric tonnes of wheat annually and is now producing just below half its requirements with the shortfall supplemented through imports.

Deliveries were last year around 160 000 metric tonnes and projections are that the figure will be surpassed this year.

The positive development has been linked to the Government’s Command Agriculture initiative.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Grain Marketing Board (GMB) chief executive officer Mr Rockie Mutenha said wheat farmers were being paid $630 per tonne and the parastatal was still taking deliveries.

‘‘Our farming season starts on the 1st of April to 31f March the following year. This year we have so far received 149 100 metric tonnes of wheat,” he said.

“The value of the wheat is $94 million and we are paying farmers $630 per tonne after the price adjustment from $500 per tonne last season’.”

“GMB currently has 127 356 metric tonnes of wheat in its reserve and that will last us four months.”

The impressive wheat figures are at the back of depressed production that had seen the country’s total harvest fall below 100 000 tonnes.

However, Government support through the Command Agriculture programme has boosted production levels of wheat.

The Government has also supported cotton production under the Presidential Input support Scheme and harvest is envisaged to surpass 127 000 tonnes achieved last year and rake in more than $200 million.

About 400 000 hectares have been put under cotton this season compared to 350 000 hactares last year.

Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) managing director Mr Pious Manamike said; “A big cotton harvest is expected this season as 400 000 hectares was put under cotton production.”

Mr Manamike urged the Government to put in place measures to guard against side marketing of cotton.