Zim gets 350 000t grain export requests

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter

As the Second Republic’s Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy and other related policies continue to bear fruit, the country has received more than 350 000 tonnes of maize export requests and will start by moving 40 000 tonnes to Rwanda, while processing a request from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Wheat exports are also being considered after Zimbabwe attained self-sufficiency driven by the Government’s agricultural policies that have deliberately supported communal, small to medium scale and commercial farmers with the aim of ensuring an upper-middle-class income economy by 2030. Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, said this yesterday while responding to questions from journalists after a post-Cabinet briefing delivered by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa in Harare. Dr Masuka said the pending maize exports by the country were a milestone for Zimbabwe, which was recently a food importer owing to persistent droughts. “This is a feat that the Second Republic has achieved in a short space of five years. Zimbabwe, perennially known as a food importer, has emerged on the stage to become self-sufficient first, which was the strategy,” he said. “Now, we have surplus that we have considered for export. Yes, Cabinet approved the exportation of 40 000 tonnes of maize to Rwanda, tranched as 10 000 tonnes each month for the next four months. We have also received a request from Democratic Republic of Congo for export of maize; cumulatively we have received requests for 350 000 tonnes of maize. We are considering our options closely so that we can retain sufficient grain for our use.” ReadMore