Zimbabwe Imports 410,667 Tonnes of Maize Worth $128 Million in Q1 2024 Amid El Nino-Induced Deficit

Zimbabwe has imported 410,667 tonnes of maize worth $128 million in the first quarter of 2024 to cover a deficit caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon. The country's maize imports in January, February, and March were 136,084 tonnes ($41.95 million), 145,354 tonnes ($43.7 million), and 129,229 tonnes ($42.4 million), respectively. "The average import bill spent on maize was 5.98%," according to the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe, which aims to import one million tonnes of grain by March 2025.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought a national disaster in March, as over 2.7 million Zimbabweans face hunger due to poor yields. The government has granted duty-free importation of maize, rice, and cooking oil from July 2024, and a duty waiver on the importation of rice, potato seed, and genetically modified maize for stock feed. Rice and potatoes are deemed key staples for national food security.

Why this matters: The severe drought in southern Africa, attributed to the worst El Niño on record, has devastated food production and wiped out staple crops in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, leading them to declare national disasters. The region is expected to have a shortfall in staple grain supply, with countries needing to import from as far as South America to fill the gaps. Aid agencies are concerned about the dire impact on women and girls, as well as the cholera outbreak affecting the region.

To address the food shortage, the government has partnered with the private sector, which has indicated the capacity to import 1 million metric tonnes of grains between April 2024 and March 2025. The government is also focusing on increasing winter wheat production, with plans to cultivate 120,000 hectares and produce over 800,000 metric tonnes, of which 600,000 metric tonnes will be wheat for food security.

Zimbabwe is seeking $2 billion in humanitarian assistance to avert starvation. "The situation is dire, with the country not yet recovered from previous disasters and the added impact of El Nino," President Mnangagwa stated. The government has assured the nation that sufficient plans are in place to provide affordable grains through sale or social welfare channels until the next harvest in March 2025.

Key Takeaways

• Zimbabwe imported 410,667 tonnes of maize worth $128M in Q1 2024 due to El Niño drought.
• Over 2.7M Zimbabweans face hunger due to poor yields, prompting a national disaster declaration.
• Zimbabwe seeks $2B in aid to avert starvation and aims to import 1M tonnes of grain by 2025.
• Government grants duty-free imports of maize, rice, and cooking oil to address food shortages.
• Zimbabwe plans to increase winter wheat production to 800,000 MT, 600,000 MT for food security.