Story by Tendai Munengwa
GOVERNMENT has stepped up efforts to curb post-harvest losses after receiving a major consignment of mechanised equipment financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), in a move aimed at strengthening food security and grain preservation nationwide.
The equipment, comprising 2 100 small metal silos, 70 multi-crop threshers and combine harvesters, was handed over at a ceremony in Harare on Tuesday and will be distributed to farmers across the country.
The US$2.1 million programme will be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development.
AfDB Country Manager Ms Eyerusalem Fasika said the intervention marks a shift towards preserving agricultural output.
“Today’s handover is a milestone shift from production to preservation… the sustainability of this programme depends on effective utilisation, proper maintenance and continued extension support,” she said.
FAO Representative Dr Patrice Talla said the initiative targets persistent post-harvest losses affecting smallholder farmers.
“Increasing production alone is not sufficient if a significant portion is lost after harvest… this intervention provides practical solutions to safeguard harvests,” he said.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Professor Obert Jiri, described post-harvest losses as a major threat to food security.
“Post-harvest losses have been a silent thief in our food systems. For maize alone, losses are estimated at 33 percent, rising to 45 percent for some vegetables. This is unacceptable,” he said.
The rollout forms part of broader government efforts to modernise grain storage systems, including the introduction of advanced silo technologies, as Zimbabwe intensifies its drive towards food sovereignty.
