Minister Made says Zimbabwe has 321 000 tonnes of maize in reserves

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made, said the Grain Marketing Board depots have more than 320 000 tonnes of maize for the Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR). He also said there was also 65 000 tonnes of wheat in reserves including a balance from last year.

He said the amount of maize and wheat in the SGR excluded the grain imported by private millers.

Minister Made said Government was paying maize farmers within a short period of time so that they could use the money to buy farming inputs. He said the tobacco industry had an organised marketing system where farmers received their money soon after selling and said Government was working on ensuring the same process was applied to maize.