Vice President Constantino Chiwenga (centre), Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri (right) and Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira listen as Seed Co head of production Mr Farai Zvavamwe explains processes in seed maize production at Mwenezana Estates in Mwenezi yesterday. — Picture: George Maponga
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday said the Covid-19 global pandemic has forced nations to concentrate on solving their own problems to improve food security in the face of dwindling aid.
The Vice President, who attended a seed maize field day at Mwenezana Estates, said Zimbabwe should not expect food assistance from other nations.
He challenged Zimbabweans to fully utilise its water bodies and fertile land to produce enough cereals and traditional grains.
The Vice President hailed the Mwenezana Seed Maize Project that was jointly developed by Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe and Seed Co (Pvt) Limited as one of interventions key to ensuring food sufficiency in the country.
Tongaat provided the 465ha, irrigation infrastructure for the model private sector initiative and is also managing the production of the seeds, while Seed Co is providing specialist agronomic and technical support.
The project is expected to produce over 1 555 tonnes of seed, which is enough to place 62 000ha under commercial maize.
The 62 000ha are expected to produce 310 000 tonnes of maize at an average yield of five tonnes per hectare, which is enough to meet food needs of 14 percent of the population, according to VP Chiwenga.
“We have all heard about the scourge of Covid-19 that is sweeping across the whole world. Every country around the world is in turmoil because of this pandemic and this means that each and every country is on its own, so we are also on our own,” said VP Chiwenga.
“Nobody will assist us with food because at the moment every country is battling with its own challenges caused by Covid-19. The time for begging for food passed a long time ago. If you go anywhere and beg for food they will also say they do not have. Let us work on our own using our water and land to fill our silos.”
He said Government has already set the ball rolling through funding this year’s winter maize programme with a target to produce 415 000 tonnes after the State and private players financed production on 80 000ha around the country.
“We must fill our silos with wheat, maize and traditional grains. Government has put in place various interventions to make sure there is adequate power supply to support the winter wheat initiative.”
VP Chiwenga said Government had already floated tenders for land preparation in Kanyemba (in the Zambezi Valley), Bulawayo Kraal (Matabeleland North) and other parts of the country as part of efforts to expand the winter maize project.
He praised Tongaat for supporting Government achieve food security through the winter maize project, which could be expanded to cover 10 000ha if existing water bodies are fully utilised.
VP Chiwenga appealed to Tongaat for the firm to increase its offer of 2 000ha for this year’s winter project.
Article Source: https://www.herald.co.zw/food-security-key-in-face-of-covid-19/
