Tabitha Mutenga, Staff Reporter
Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, has dismissed fears of severe food shortages in most drought-prone areas of the country, assuring the nation of adequate grain reserves to feed everyone despite a potentially bad agricultural season.
Responding to questions on whether the country is gearing up for a drought given the erratic and late rains particularly in December, Biti said although the country would miss the targeted output of 1,8 million tonnes, the strategic grain reserves of 500 000 tonnes plus imports from Zambia and the current crop would guarantee the country enough food for 2012.
"Given the late rains, we will not be able to meet the targeted 1,8 million tonnes, but if we have lost anything , we have not lost more than 10 percent of the 2011 crop and we already have the strategic grain reserves to feed our people," Biti told a post-budget meeting in the capital.
"For the first time in recent history of Zimbabwe, we were able to purchase the full complement of the strategic grain reserves which is 500 000 tonnes via the purchase of those 20 tonnes, 40 tonnes from farmers," he said.
Last year, the country had targeted an output of 1,8 million tonnes but because of a mini drought between January and February 2010, the country harvested 1,5 million tonnes.
"We do not have a crop assessment for the 2012 crop; it only comes out in April but even though there might be a reduction in the commercial maize crop since most farmers planted after the planting deadline of 15 December, the subsistence crop will be a good enough crop for food," he said.
Traditionally, small scale farmers have been the custodians of food security in Zimbabwe, producing 60 percent of the grain.
Regional developments already indicate that there would be a grain deficit since Malawi and South Africa have stopped exports and are importing from Zam-bia.
"Zambia is the only country selling grain and millers in Zimbabwe are busy purchasing as much quantities as po-ssible to ensure that there is adequate grain in the country.
"A combination of these imports from Zambia, the national grain reserves and the expected production will definitely ensure food sufficiency for 2012," Biti assured the nation.
Agritex estimated that 247?000 hectares of maize was planted countrywide by December 31, 2011, down from 379?993 hectares in the previous farming season.
Farming organisations have attributed the decline in hectarage to a combination of factors, among them, the late onset of the rains, lack of agricultural support by the government and financial institutions.
Also, the World Food Programme reported that more than one million people in Zimbabwe will be unable to meet their food needs during the lean season between now and March, in spite of improvements in the food security situation in recent years.
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