Russia grain grant makes Zim food secure – govt

The Zimbabwean Government has maintained it’s food secure following last week’s pledge by Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Russia-Africa Economic summit to offer Zimbabwe grain.

Following Putin’s remarks, there was now a lot of contentions on why Putin wanted to offer Zimbabwe grain when the Government announced earlier last month that it had enough grain supplies and even noted that it was already bracing itself to export grain to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe no longer has people who were food insecure.

“Going forward, given the fact the Zimbabwe is food secure, incomes are rising, the economy is stable and growing, and the country is capable of taking care of emergencies and vulnerabilities, the term vulnerability will be dropped as it no longer applies. Continued use of the term shifts focus away from assessing the impact of the developmental, empowerment and livelihood upliftment programmes which are underway and, henceforth, the title will become Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee. In short, ZimVAC is now ZimLAC.

Thus, Zimbabwe’s food security is guaranteed until the next agricultural production season, thereby enabling rural communities to withstand systematic and particular shocks they experienced, such as Cyclone Freddy and late onset of rains. Government also proactively took effective market-based mitigatory measures to combat price increases experienced in the economy,” said the Minister.

Last year Zimbabwe recorded a surplus of wheat production saving US$300 million in wheat imports, this year, the country expects yet another bumper harvest, in not only wheat production, but also other grains.