STAFF WRITER
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) acting operation director, Clemence Guta, has revealed that the country has only four months’ worth of grain left following depletion of stocks, Business Times can report.
Guta, who spoke in Parliament this week, said the current quantity of grain stocks held in the reserves was 156 681 metric tonnes (mt) of maize, 45 959mt of traditional grains and 247 578mt of wheat.
“An estimate of the projected grain requirements for the year 2024 and the anticipated consumption levels by various sectors such as food processing industries, livestock feed and human consumption national requirement for maize and traditional grains is 2 200 000mt for both humans and livestock, milling industry 45 000mt per month and livestock feed 30 000mt per month,” Guta said.
“The available maize and traditional grains at GMB is primarily targeted to benefit the vulnerable households under social welfare.”
“As for grain stocks, we are left with approximately four months’ supply. The GMB will import to augment the available stocks targeting the vulnerable households.”
He said private players were authorised to import grain to avert shortages.
“Grain processors have also been allowed to import grain for processing such that a total of 310 000mt of maize and 136 000mt of wheat were imported into the country from 1 April 2023 to date,” he said.
“GMB only managed to sell the following quantities of grain to processors during the period 1 April 2023 to date: 155 000mt maize, traditional grains 10 800mt and 32 500mt of wheat.
“In the event of unforeseen circumstances affecting grain production such as adverse weather conditions or crop diseases, contingency measures are in place to mitigate any potential shortages and ensure food security.”
