HARARE: Zimbabwe has spent over $115 million on maize imports during the first nine months of the year, according to Zimstat. The country has been importing maize from Malawi, South Africa and Zambia during the nine months to September 30, 2015 and has so far imported about 390 million kilogrammes, which is equivalent to 429,826 tonnes.
Faced with a deficit of 700,000t after farmers delivered a paltry 35,000t due to drought in the 2014/5 season, the government has engaged private players to import grain to sustain the nation up to the next harvesting period.
“A total of $115,040,260 has been used in the first nine months of the year 2015 for the importation of 389,931,735kgs of maize,” said Zimstat. In January the country used about $6.5 million for the importation of 21 million kgs while in February about $6,8 million was spent on 22 million kilogrammes. In March around $7.7 million was used to import about 25 million kgs.
In April about $9.2 million was spent on importing a net worth of around 30 million kgs while in May around $11 million was used to import 37 million kgs. In June about $15 million was used to import maize of around 49 million kgs with July recording about $20 million on 73 million kgs. August recorded about $17 million on 57 million kgs. September recorded the highest figures so far at $22 million, which was used to import around 76 million kgs.
During the same period, Zimstat said the country also spent about $4,5 million for the procurement of close to 2,4 million kgs of maize seed from India, South Africa and Zambia.
