Freedom Mupanedemo

Midlands Bureau

The Midlands Province has appealed to Government to make more grain available at Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots across the province to cater for the growing number of people in need of food.

The appeal was made by Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Larry Mavima to President Mnangagwa during a Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Gweru at the weekend.

Sen Mavhima said there were thousands of people, especially those in rural areas who were in need of food, but GMB depots were running dry.

“Your Excellency, as the drought reaches the peak hunger period, the province acknowledges that the grain deficit at hand is not a Midlands problem alone but a national shortage . . . however, I wish to bring to your attention that the grain shortage, particularly at GMB depots, has now worsened across the province,” said Sen Mavima.

He said they were making the best of the grain they have by ensuring that it is distributed fairly across the province.

Sen Mavima said preparations for the 2020-21 farming season were now at an advanced stage.

“We appreciate Government efforts to address grain shortages through imports and other means as this will subsequently enhance food security at household level.

Intervention programmes by the Government in the province have been implemented through the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and they we doing the distribution,” he said.

Sen Mavima said the province has also embarked on a massive land preparation under the Government’s Pfumvudza Programme aimed at enhancing food security at house hold level.

“In view of the foregoing, the province is on comprehensive conversation agriculture training to ensure food security,” he said.

Sen Mavima said about 160 000 farmers had already been trained and were participating in the Pfumvudza programme in the province.

“Our target is to get over 200 000 farmers under the Pfumvudza and so far the leading district is Gokwe north with over 32 000 now having under gone                                                                                           training.

“We have 30 264 farmers under Pfumvudza in Gokwe South, 11 327 farmers in Gweru district and 24 071 in Kwekwe,” he said.