Story by Owen Mandovha
MILLERS have applauded the Government for liberalising the grain market by allowing imports which will go a long in safeguarding the country’s food self-sufficiency status.
Amid the forecasted adverse weather conditions and global food supply chain disruptions, the Government has further liberalised the grain trading market allowing private companies to import grain. Chairman of the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) Mr Tafadzwa Musarara says this major intervention is timely to stabilize the grain supply in the market for the long term.
“Millers would like to reassure the market that no shortages of grain-related commodities shall be encountered in the market because the country has sufficient grain reserves to last to the next season. However, amid some threats caused by the impending Elnino rainfall season, the Government has allowed the importation of grains in a manner that will ensure that at no point is the country going to face any grain shortages,” he said.
Mr Musarara further commended the Government for creating a self-sustaining wheat supply ecosystem through its support of the sector.
“Wheat production this season is going to be in excess which is good news for us Millers because we are not going to import any grain. We commend the Government for establishing a self-sustaining wheat sector.”
Prices of basic goods have been on a stabilizing trek for over three months through a host of various Monetary and fiscal interventions.
The latest move by the Government to permit grain imports is also a major step towards mitigating the country’s food self-sustenance status amid a myriad of local and external food security threats.
