The government’s over-reliance on the private sector for maize supply has raised concerns about Zimbabwe’s food security, as it has resulted in a ‘sharp decline’ in maize availability via the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), according to a recent inquiry by the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development.
According to the report, Zimbabwe’s food security crisis is “deepening, with maize shortages and agricultural instability exacerbated by the El Niño-induced drought,” which highlight significant gaps in the government’s approach in addressing food shortages.
Although relying on the private sector is said to be a strategy to diversify the maize supply chain it has led to a decline in maize availability.
The committee’s investigation said the devastating effects of the El Niño-induced drought significantly affected crop yields and overall food production in Zimbabwe while the country’s agricultural sector, heavily dependent on rain-fed farming, is highly vulnerable to climatic shocks.
The drought, combined with inadequate investment in irrigation infrastructure, has left many farmers unable to secure enough water for their crops, leading to poor harvests and reduced food availability.
According to the committee, Silo Foods Industries, a key food processor in Zimbabwe, reported severe maize shortages due to the failure of the GMB to meet supply targets.
In December 2023, Silo received just 1 934 metric tonnes of maize from the GMB, far below its monthly target of 8 000 metric tonnes.
“The statistics presented highlighted the severity of the situation, with Silo Food Industries receiving only 1 934 metric tonnes of maize from the GMB in December 2023, 3 460 metric tonnes in January 2024, and 1 267 metric tonnes in February 2024, against a target of 8 000 metric tonnes per month,” said the committee.
“This resulted in a significant shortfall of 3 339 metric tonnes (42 percent of the target) that underscored the urgent need for action to address the food shortages and prevent the situation from worsening.”
The committee noted that the agricultural industry, a critical component of Zimbabwe’s economy, suffered significant losses, resulting in higher food costs and lower household incomes.
The inquiry also identified a critical weakness in the government’s response: an over-reliance on the private sector for maize supply.
While market liberalisation was intended to increase efficiency and boost agricultural production, it has instead led to a decline in maize supply available for public distribution through the GMB.
The private sector, particularly millers and large-scale traders, have been reluctant to sell their maize to the GMB, which is responsible for managing the country’s strategic grain reserve.
“The private sector is not selling maize to the GMB, creating a significant gap in the maize supply chain. This over-reliance on private suppliers, especially in the midst of an El Niño-induced drought, has left the government struggling to maintain adequate food reserves,” the committee observed in its report.
The shortage of maize at the GMB has made it increasingly difficult for the government to provide food security for its citizens, as public maize distribution channels have been severely constrained.
The committee also pointed out the government has been ill-equipped to track maize stocks held by private traders, which could have allowed for better coordination and a more timely response to the food security challenge.
“The government should have had a more precise understanding of the maize stocks held by the private sector. Without this information, it has been unable to coordinate effectively with private traders and millers, hindering its ability to respond to the crisis,” the committee stated.
The inquiry also revealed deeper structural challenges within the agricultural sector that have compounded the food insecurity problem.
Issues such as “ land tenure security and the dispersed nature of smallholder farms, which hindered agricultural production and investment, contributed to a 71 percent shortfall in maize supply compared to the target.”
Farmers have also faced financial challenges due to delayed payments by the GMB, which can take months to process.
“Farmers also struggled to access essential inputs, financial services, quality seeds, fertilizers, and modern equipment. The Committee also observed that farmers did not prefer to sell their products to the GMB because of the considerable delays up to months before receiving payments after delivery. The delays put a financial strain on farmers and drove them to look for other buyers who could pay them on delivery,” said the committee.
In addition, the committee said the process of selling to the GMB had grown unduly complex, with problems such as bureaucracy, ambiguous guidelines, and logistical difficulties.
The government’s decision to allow the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) to play a more prominent role in the commercial maize supply chain has also raised concerns.
The committee observed that while GMAZ’s involvement was intended to alleviate food shortages, it has contributed to a decline in maize availability for the GMB, further complicating the food security situation.
Moreover, the committee raised concerns about GMAZ’s importation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for human consumption.
“GMO imports must be properly labeled, segregated, and traceable to ensure food safety. Consumers need to be fully informed about the nature of the maize they are consuming,” the committee recommended.
The committee has called for a comprehensive review of the government’s agricultural policies, with recommendations to streamline the operations of the GMB, improve coordination with private traders and enhance the country’s irrigation capacity.
“The government must prioritise long-term agricultural reforms that go beyond short-term fixes. Without addressing the structural issues in the sector, Zimbabwe’s food security challenges will continue to worsen,” said the committee.
In coming up with this report, the Committee held oral evidence sessions with the following key stakeholders: GMB, Silo Foods Industry, GMAZ and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development..
The Committee also visited selected GMB depots in Aspindale, Norton, Chegutu, Lion’s Den, Banket and in Chinhoyi.
