News in Brief:
– Zimbabwe faces a grain shortage of up to 1.1 million tonnes due to drought and is relying on private sector imports and a strategic wheat-based plan to address the shortfall.
– The country is also appealing for international aid to avert a food crisis.
The Zimbabwean government is seeking private sector assistance to import grain and address a serious food shortage caused by the El Niño-induced drought.
Information Minister Jenfan Muswere announced the shortfall, estimated to be between 598,425 and 1,108,425 tonnes of grain, during a post-cabinet briefing.
He revealed that government stockpiles of maize, traditional grains, and wheat stand at approximately 308,139 metric tonnes. This includes wheat available for sale, bringing the total to 430,211 metric tonnes, which is insufficient to meet national needs.
To bridge the gap, the government is relying on private sector imports. Private companies have revealed their capacity to import 1 million metric tonnes of grain between April 2024 and March 2025 to mitigate the effects of the drought.
The government is also implementing a wheat-based food security strategic intervention that is expected to reduce import requirements by 486,000 metric tonnes, with a cost saving of $189.5 million. This initiative focuses on wheat-based solutions to lessen the reliance on imported grains.
Recall that President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought a national disaster and has launched a $2 billion international appeal to avert widespread food insecurity.
