Story by John Nhandara
The Grain marketing Board (GMB) is expanding its grain storage capacity through the construction of additional silos across the country in line with government’s trust to increase the national strategic reserves.
Seven silos with a storage capacity of 56 000 metric tonnes are under construction in provinces that include Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North.
Giving an update of the project, Grain Marketing Board chief executive officer, Dr Edison Badharai noted that the project resonates well with cabinet’s directive that strategic grain reserves should increase to 1.5 million metric tonnes from the current average of around 750 000 metric tonnes.
“We have 750 000 metric tonnes capacity for the silos and another 800 for non-silos. So we are building 7 new silos each with 56 000 capacity, which adds up to 392 000 and these are in Midlands, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland North. Into the future, the plan is to expand into other areas like Matabeleland South. Cabinet has directed that the capacity of our SGR should be 1,5 million tonnes at any time and we are building towards that,” he said.
Dr Badharai indicated that the new silos are at various stages of construction.
In Kwekwe we are on concrete and others are at different levels of excavation and at some depots we are moving equipment to the sites. Within 18 months these should be done.”
The country has 12 silo plant sites with a cumulative holding capacity of 750 000 metric tonnes.
