Strategic grain reserve stocks enough

Peter Matika, peter.matika@chronicle.co.zw
GOVERNMENT has assured the nation that the Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) holds ample grain supplies to support essential food initiatives, such as the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme, despite rising concerns about a potential drought.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the SGR currently holds 245 052 tonnes of maize, wheat, and traditional grains.
He said as the nation grapples with the El Nino-induced drought, the private sector will also be stepping up efforts to import additional supplies for commercial purposes, particularly stock feed, to bolster food security efforts.

“Notably, this year has seen a record wheat harvest, with 563 961 tonnes collected, an impressive increase from last year’s 465 548 tonnes. The Grain Marketing Board continues its important work, distributing stock feed to farmers across the country,” said Dr Muswere.
He said the establishment of ward drought mitigation centres has made significant progress, achieving 43 percent of the targeted 1 035 wards across the country.

“Looking forward, the 2024/2025 Summer Season Plan aims ambitiously to ramp up cereal production to 3 274 200 tonnes, a substantial leap from the 744 271 tons harvested during the previous season. Overall, major crop production is expected to skyrocket by 347 percent, jumping from a modest 915 000 tonnes to over 4 million tonnes,” said Dr Muswere.

He said the specific targets include 3,3 million tonnes for cereals and 819 500 tonnes for pulses.
The minister said more than 746 238 hectares of maize have been planted under various support programmes, representing 41,5 percent of the intended target. Dr Muswere said the Presidential Input Schemes have also exceeded expectations, with 117 percent of the 9 million plots prepared by 116 percent of the targeted 3 million rural households.

“In light of the current dry spell, farmers are encouraged to seek agronomic advice from Agritex to navigate these challenges effectively. Fortunately, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has predicted normal to above-normal rainfall, bringing hope for improved agricultural conditions,” he said.
The extremely hot and dry weather conditions that have been experienced across the country since last week have alarmed farmers who had begun planting, as health experts warn of adverse impacts linked to the heatwave.

The MSD noted that the conditions, which started on November 30, are expected to continue until this week.
The intense heat has already begun affecting farmers, raising concerns about the viability of their crops. Health experts have also cautioned that the current heat could lead to heat strokes and even fatalities if people do not stay adequately hydrated.

The MSD, in collaboration with the Department of Civil Protection Unit, has indicated that some parts of the country could see temperatures soar as high as 44°C.

Despite the onset of heavy downpours last month in line with the projections of normal to above-normal rainfall in the 2024/25 season, the recent spike in temperatures to unprecedented levels has left farmers worried about the success of their crop, most of which was at the germination stage.
In some parts of the country, farmers noted it has been a fortnight since they last received meaningful rainfalls and this has severely affected livestock as some areas still do not have pastures to save their animals.

MSD has said hot daytime conditions may lead to dehydration and increased evaporation rates including evapotranspiration in fields, which may affect crops.
The agency has encouraged farmers to increase the irrigation of crops and ensure animals have proper shade and ventilation, as well as adequate water.

The impact of the heat could be even more devastating for livestock farmers, who depend on natural water sources such as dams that have run dry and grazing lands that have depleted.
Meanwhile, Dr Muswere said to protect river ecosystems, the Government has enforced a nationwide ban on alluvial mining through Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024. Violators face severe penalties, including the confiscation of minerals, equipment, and vehicles.

“On November 29, 2024, the Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024 was gazetted, amending regulations related to alluvial mining. This new legislation enforces a ban on alluvial mining nationwide and introduces stricter penalties for offenders, including the seizure of minerals, machinery, and vehicles. So far, authorities have made 344 arrests related to violations of this new directive,” he said.

Following the directive by Cabinet in August to ban riverbed mining, an Inter-Ministerial Committee, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, was set up to spearhead its enforcement and to carry out a survey on the status of the river ecosystems and recommend more deterrent penalties for breach of the law.