The Government has warned those selling genetically modified organism (GMO) maize to farmers for planting that they will be prosecuted.
Addressing journalists in Harare last week, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Haritatos, said that both the sellers and buyers of GMO maize will be prosecuted. He said (<a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/selling-growing-genetically-modified-maize-seed-is-illegal-agriculture-deputy-minister/">via NewZimbabwe.com</a>):
<blockquote>
We are allowing GMO maize to be imported into the country but what we don’t want is, for it to be distributed to our farmers.
We believe that if any maize is sold to our farmers, this is tantamount to the person who sold it to the individual to be prosecuted whether it’s the farmer buying or the seller. We will prosecute both because both will be offside.
So those that are importing, we do not allow you to sell maize to farmers for them to grow on their farms.
If you are caught selling maize and we find that maize, unfortunately, you will definitely be prosecuted.
The law has to take its toll and we cannot have that in Zimbabwe. So, l think let’s all be forewarned let’s follow what the law says and let’s not make this a difficult situation when it doesn’t need to be difficult.
</blockquote>
Haritatos said commercial importers can approach authorised entities for maize imports and the GMO maize will be milled under supervision by the National Biotech Authority of Zimbabwe (NBAZ). He said:
<blockquote>
Our reliance on imports as a country must only be within the commercial sector. So those who are looking to bring in maize are welcome to approach GMAZ and CMAZ and other millers who want to import but they must bring in the grain that they require.
The GMO maize must be delivered to a mill and it will be milled under supervision by the NBAZ, the National Biotech Authority, or it can be sold for stock feed and again put through their stock feeds plant.
</blockquote>
Haritatos the country has a “substantial amount of stock” in the strategic grain reserves, enough to feed the nation until next summer’s harvest.
However, last week, the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) said it plans to import 1.4 million metric tonnes of maize from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil among others.
Zimbabwe has a grain deficit of over 680 000 metric tonnes mainly due to the El Nino-induced drought which disrupted the 2023/24 summer cropping season.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Growing Genetically Modified Maize In Zimbabwe Is Illegal - Deputy Minister

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, said that the private sector must continue to import maize for human consumption, including importing genetically modified maize but under strict supervision.
Speaking during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Masuka said the food security outlook is made of four components which are: what is in stock, what is likely to be produced in the current season, what is likely to be produced in winter and what is likely to be imported.
He said Zimbabwe allows GMOs to be imported because the country has a very strict framework. Said Masuka:
<blockquote>
This is what we deliberated; we said the private sector must continue to import maize for human consumption, we said if they wish to import genetically modified maize they can do so but that must be under strict supervision.
Zimbabwe was one of the first countries in the SADC region to put in place a GMO (genetically modified organism) policy in 1998 and formed the National Biotechnology Authority, and Zimbabwe allows GMOs to be imported because we have a very strict framework. Perhaps because of the strictness, very few private companies have come on board to do some experiments on GMOs.
In the past, we have applied this model very successfully. It is genetically modified maize not GMO maize.
We said that our food security ought also to be premised on consideration of wheat as a cereal crop, either for direct consumption by people as bread or as a mealie meal or for swap arrangement.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Government has liberalised the importation of grain at the household level with effect from July.
Duty will be waived on the importation of rice, maize, potato seed, cooking oil and genetically modified maize for stock feed, whose milling and distribution will be strictly supervised.
Cabinet also approved the removal of Value Added Tax on rice and potato seed since the two foods are now considered staples.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Agriculture Minister Speaks On Genetically Modified Maize Imports

The government has quietly lifted the ban on the GMO maize imports for the first time in 12 years, the Daily News reports. According to the publication, officials with knowledge about GMO maize said:
<blockquote>While genetically modified maize imports from South Africa are being allowed, the grain is carefully quarantined and is milled into mealie meal,</blockquote>
Meanwhile, 13 688 tonnes were imported from South Africa in the week ending January 24, 2020, an all-time high in 7 years.
More: <a href="https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2020/02/03/govt-lifts-ban-on-gmo-maize">Daily News </a>

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