Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development has provided the report on the preliminary food outlook for April 2024 to March 2025.
The nation is being advised that various measures are being implemented to guarantee food security so that no one dies from hunger due to El-Nino-induced drought. The cabinet discussed the importance of considering more hectarage for growing rice given the increased rice consumption by the citizens.
Hon. Anxious.J. Masuka said the Cabinet also emphasized the need to support and promote local wheat production for direct consumption for a swap with maize to meet maize demand for the nation. In light of the foregoing, the Cabinet has approved as following:
i. the Food Security Outlook Report to March 2025 to facilitate winter cereals production planning; Page 5 of 8
ii. ii. The food security strategy based on the comparative and competitive advantages of wheat this winter;
iii. The consumption of 7.5kg per person per month be used immediately for social welfare and be adjusted after October to 8.5kg per person per month;
iv. iv. The purchase of local grain at an import parity price of US$390 per tonne to mop up excess local grain;
v. v. Duty waiver on the importation of rice and potato seed;
vi. importation of Genetically Modified maize for stock feed, under strictly supervised milling and distribution;
vii. Duty-free importation of maize, rice, and cooking oil by households with effect from July 2024;
viii. Re-activation of the Grain Mobilization Committee.
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