GOVERNMENT has lifted the ban on private grain sales and granted the nod to individuals and corporates with free funds to import quantities of their choice to complement Treasury’s efforts in ensuring adequate national grain reserves.

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri, briefing journalists after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, said those intending to do so can obtain required licensing from relevant authorities.

“All those who want to import grain are free to do so, be it for domestic consumption or resale. It is up to the individual. Import licences can be secured from the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture. There is no limit to the amount of grain you can import into the country,” he said.

“One will actually be complementing Government efforts by importing grain.

“If there is any who intends to import, they are most welcome to do so and they can approach AMA (Agricultural Marketing Authority) for the necessary licences. Licences can easily be availed so that those with free funds can actually import grain into the country.”

The intervention comes at a time when Zimbabwe has suffered reduced yields as a result of drought experienced last season. The country needs an estimated 800 000 tonnes of maize imports to cover the gap up to the next harvest and Government has assured the nation that no one will starve.

The country, whose national grain requirement stands at 1,8 million tonnes, will be importing the bulk of the maize from Southern African countries.State media