Tafadzwa Nyikadzino

The ongoing drought which has placed about 7.7 million Zimbabweans in need of food aid will see the return of yellow maize in the country,  as private players are sourcing it from countries like Brazil where it is abundant.

Yellow maize, known locally as “Kenya” was previously consumed in Zimbabwe in 2008 when the country’s economy went into a deep recession which caused massive food shortages. This year, the country will bank on it to mitigate food shortages.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared this year’s drought as a national disaster,  and called on international aid organisations and private players to assist the country’s efforts to feed its people. Private players have been allowed to import maize into the country.

State of the Nation News understands that the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has since dispatched a team to Brazil to source over 400 000 metric tonnes of both yellow and white maize to bring into the country.

Efforts to get a comment from GMAZ were fruitless by the time of publishing. However,  the Chairperson of GMAZ, Tafadzwa Musarara was quoted in a local newspaper (Newsday) saying the organisation is aiming to procure a maize consignment that will cover the country from September 2024 to August 2025.

“We are aiming to procure and secure 400 000 metric tonnes supply arrangement covering September 2024 to August 2025. This maize will complement our current supplies from local farmers and ongoing imports from South Africa, “said Musarara.

While yellow maize is used as a staple food throughout the world particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America,  it is used as stock feed in developed countries.  It is also used for the production of alcohol and syrup due to its sweetness.