‘We have enough food till harvest’

04 Sep, 2016 - 03:09 0 Views
‘We have enough food till harvest’ Minister Mupfumira

The Sunday Mail

GOVERNMENT has secured enough grain to last until the 2016/2017 summer crop harvesting after United Nations aid agencies and deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board by local farmers boosted food security.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Priscah Mupfumira said available grain could feed vulnerable households for the next six months.

“We have secured more than US$200 million from UN agencies, Oxfam and other humanitarian groups to help us to feed those who are affected by the El Nino-induced drought.

“Our farmers have done a good job of delivering their grain to GMB at a good pace; consequently we are buying most of the maize from our farmers rather than importing from outside,” she said.

Zimbabwe needs 1,8 million tonnes of grain annually for human and livestock consumption. So far, farmers have delivered more than 170 000 tonnes worth US$60 million of maize to the GMB.

“Since we have enough food in our stocks we have moved to help those in peri-urban centres who are also food insecure. With Command Agriculture in place, we hope to feed our people with our home grown cereals and if there is need to import we will do so. If properly done (Command Agriculture), importation of grain will be a thing of the past and we hope this year will be the last time we will be doing that.”

In February, President Mugabe declared a national disaster, resulting in Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa launching an international relief appeal for US$1,6 billion. About four million people require food aid.

Last week, The Netherlands unveiled a US$3,9 million fund to mitigate the effects of drought.

The prioritisation of food distribution is based on Food and Nutrition Council of Zimbabwe assessments and others by various agencies.

Meanwhile, 15 000 vulnerable households in Caledonia, Harare are getting a monthly ration of 50kg of grain.

Addressing Caledonia residents yesterday, Harare East MP Cde Terrence Mukupe (zanu-PF) said, “We appealed to Government for assistance after realising that most people in Caledonia were has been affected by the El Nino induced drought.

“Although Government had already launched the programme in other parts of the country we appealed for swift intervention since we understand that most people in this area were had hard by the drought,” Cde Mukupe said.

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