Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa unveiled the 56,000-tonne smart grain silo complex at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot in Kwekwe on Monday, highlighting its potential to cushion the agricultural sector against the shocks of climate change.
The grain silos are being hailed as a game-changer for smallholder farmers and food-insecure rural communities.
The modern facility, equipped with self-cleaning and temperature-controlled systems, is expected to dramatically cut post-harvest losses that have historically undermined food security efforts.
“For years, farmers have watched their hard-earned harvests go to waste due to poor storage. This new facility is not just infrastructure; it is insurance against the growing threat of climate-induced food shortages,” said President Mnangagwa.
The silo can preserve grain for up to seven years — a critical development in a country where erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells have made consistent harvests unpredictable. Its high-speed offloading capacity of 100 tonnes per hour is also expected to reduce logistical bottlenecks that have plagued farmers during peak seasons.
The President urged farmers to increase cereal production to match the country’s expanding storage capacity, adding that the government would continue modernising existing silos to match new climate and market realities.
In a move that could redefine rural resilience, the government announced plans to build 14 additional state-of-the-art silos in remote districts, including drought-prone areas such as Beitbridge, Gwanda, Lupane, and Gokwe.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Dr. Anxious Masuka, confirmed that the Ministry is on course to achieve the target of 1.5 million tonnes of grain storage capacity by 2030, in line with President Mnangagwa’s directive. He said the expansion of storage infrastructure is a critical step in strengthening the country’s food security amid growing climate-related challenges.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, expressed confidence that the newly commissioned silo complex would play a key role in boosting the province’s economic growth and agricultural productivity.
