Muzarabani tops sorghum deliveries
MUZARABANI district is topping in sorghum production this year and the community which is currently taking their produce to Centenary is appealing for the establishment of a Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot which is closer.
Muzarabani North Member of Parliament who is also Minister of Energy and Power Development Cde Zhemu Soda said although there is a collection point in Muzarabani, the district is in need of a GMB depot.
“According to statistics availed last week, Centenary depot is number one in sorghum deliveries.
“The sorghum is coming from lower Muzarabani and it is a challenge taking the produce to Centenary which is further.
“Muzarabani did well this year in grain production and we thank our President for assistance which enabled the community to have a bumper harvest.”
Cde Soda said the district doesn’t have a Government hospital and they rely on St Albert’s Mission Hospital.
He said people in Muzarabani face challenges in accessing the hospital especially in the wake of Covid-19.
“We are in need of a district hospital, we know that plans are afoot for construction of the hospital. We thank the Government for the progress in the oil and gas exploration.”
According to the second round of crop and livestock assessment traditional grains production for the 2020/2021 season is estimated at 347 968 tones which is 128 percent more compared to 152 515 tones in 2019/2020.
Sorghum production is expected to be 244 063 tones which is 135 percent more than 103 684 tones obtained during 2019/2020 season.
“Finger millet production is expected to be at 13 223 tones which is 35 percent more than 9 799 tones produced in the 2019/2020 season,” read the report.
“Pearl Millet Production is expected to be at 90 683 tones which is more than 39 032 tonnes obtained during 2018/2019 season.
“The total cereal production is 3 075 538 tonnes against a national cereal requirement of 1 797 435 tones for human consumption and 450 000 tones for livestock.”
Mashonaland Central is leading in sorghum production with 55 477 tonnes compared to 19 920 during the 2019/2020 season.