PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday commissioned the newly constructed and first-ever state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Grain Marketing Board (GMB) silos in Kwekwe, Midlands Province, in yet another significant milestone in infrastructure development as the country moves towards achieving an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The facility can store 56 000 tonnes of grain and features seven high-tech silos that are now operational, having received their first grain delivery on Sunday.
This modern depot plays a crucial role in the Government’s broader strategy to modernise national grain storage infrastructure, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance food security.
The inauguration coincides with the nation’s recovery from the effects of the El Niño-induced drought, which has severely impacted agriculture across Southern Africa. In response, the Government has intensified efforts to secure the nation’s grain supplies by investing in critical post-harvest infrastructure.
President Mnangagwa, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (left), and other senior officials listen as Grain Marketing Board (GMB) chief executive officer Dr Edson Badarai (centre) shows a model of the country’s first-ever artificial intelligence-powered grain silos at the GMB’s Kwekwe depot during their historic commissioning yesterday. Ad ut voluptate ea cus
The Kwekwe silos are part of a nationwide initiative by the Second Republic to strengthen the country’s strategic grain reserves. The project includes the construction of 14 modern silo complexes in key agricultural areas such as Beitbridge, Gwanda, Lupane, Gokwe, Masvingo and Timber Mills in Mutare.
Each complex, including the one in Kwekwe, has a storage capacity of 8 000 tonnes, contributing to a targeted national silo capacity of 1,5 million tonnes, up from the current 750 000 tonnes.
This increase in storage capacity is essential for cushioning the country against droughts, stabilising food prices and minimising post-harvest losses.
Kwekwe District is a vital grain-producing region, home to high-yielding farms like the First Family’s Pricabe Farm, which recently achieved an impressive yield of 11,3 tonnes per hectare, setting new records. Other significant producers include DCK Investments, managed by Mr Douglas Kwande.
Previously, farmers in the region had to transport their grain to silos in Chegutu, a costly journey that could exceed US$600 per 30-tonne trip. The new silos will substantially lower transportation costs and make storage more accessible.
The Government has announced plans to commission one new or upgraded site at a time, aiming to transform 21 depots across the country by 2030. Zimbabwe requires approximately 2,2 million tonnes of grain annually for human and livestock consumption.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka tours GMB Kwekwe Silos
President Mnangagwa, accompanied by Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube, toured the facility where GMB engineers demonstrated its operations. The Head of State unveiled a plaque marking the official commissioning of the facility.
In his address to the gathered crowd at the commissioning ceremony, President Mnangagwa expressed his excitement about the ongoing development taking place in the country.
“It’s my honour and privilege to officiate at this ceremony to mark the commissioning of our country’s first-ever Artificial Intelligence-powered Grain Silos here in Kwekwe, Midlands Province,” he said.
“This 56 000-tonne smart-grain storage facility, with seven state-of-the-art silos are yet another testament of the transformation that continues to unfold in our country’s agriculture sector, as we modernise national food systems,” said the President.
To guarantee the requisite storage, he said a resolution to further establish 14 additional silo depots across all rural provinces, including the Kwekwe Grain Silos commissioned yesterday, has been made.
“These sites will enhance the national storage capacity from the current 750 000 tonnes to close to 1,5 million tonnes. Upon completion of the silos, the nation is predicted to be able to store enough grain in the Strategic Grain Reserve, for a period of three years, at any given time,” he said.
Minister Owen Ncube
President Mnangagwa said the impressive Kwekwe silos project equally marks the beginning of a nationwide modernisation and the integration of cutting-edge AI and other new technologies to revolutionise the country’s grain storage infrastructure.
“Features such as modernised in-built dryers, real time monitoring of temperature, humidity, moisture level and carbon-dioxide, along with improved ventilation in the silos will improve grain quality and ensure longer-term storage of grain,” he explained.
Other aspects, such as the automated environmental adjustments, coupled with the AI-enabled climate control system, are expected to help enhance grain integrity while also enhancing energy efficiency.
“Similarly, impressive are the digital traceable record systems and integrated anti-theft measures, all of which ensure transparency, accountability and protection of both the grain and the facility,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said he was aware that in the past, outdated infrastructure had led to losses, sometimes totalling over US$30 million, largely due to pest damage, as well as moisture and handling inadequacies. This situation was untenable, said President Mnangagwa.
He congratulated the Grain Marketing Board as the lead agency in the project, for a job well done and for successfully deploying this state-of-the-art, technology-powered facility.
Kwekwe’s smart silos
“Other Government agencies and departments are directed to urgently prioritise the adoption of appropriate technologies to improve systems, efficiencies, convenience and profitability of public enterprises,” said the President.
“The realisation of Vision 2030 transcends to the use of technology-driven solutions and systems across every social and economic sector. No sector must be left behind.”
President Mnangagwa also said the strategic location of the additional silo depots across the country, dovetails with the devolution and decentralisation agenda that is being implemented by the Second Republic.
“It’s expected that during the good agriculture seasons, production output in high-potential provinces will be well catered for, through the additional storage capacity in those provinces,” said the President.
For the first time in the country, he noted that silos are being established, in the drier geographical regions, to enable grain storage within the proximity of communities that may require grain support during seasons of drought.
Under this programme, President Mnangagwa said silos are being constructed in Beitbridge, Gwanda, Lupane and Gokwe, among other drought prone regions of the country.
“Riding on the expanding grain storage capacity, I challenge farmers to re-double their efforts towards enhancing production and productivity across all cereals and crops,” he said.
“In this regard, traditional knowledge systems and the sharing of knowledge by more experienced farmers to those new in this sector should be promoted.”
President Mnangagwa said the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, along with other stakeholders, should play their part to ensure that complementary policies and strategies are in place to consistently spur agricultural production and productivity.
“All grain silos must be fully utilised. Unity at the community level remains an essential ingredient to our national success and sustainable food security and sovereignty,” he said.
“On its part, my administration will reliably strengthen its role to safeguard food security and a stable agriculture sector.”
President Mnangagwa said the recently announced producer prices for the 2024/25 summer cropping season and the 2025 winter wheat incentive price are part of ongoing efforts to enable farmers to get fair value for their produce, while maintaining the country’s grain reserves.
“Meanwhile, it is critically important that synergies between the GMB and the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange be consolidated to provide farmers with storage solutions and improve access to structured markets,” he said.
As the country consolidates the transformational agriculture programme, institutions of higher learning, together with industry, are called upon to innovate around the development of on-farm grain storage solutions and other appropriate home-grown technologies and equipment, said the President.
“Our collective efforts must help prevent post-harvest losses as well as avoid costly freight charges during peak harvest times.
“The facilitation of production and productivity efficiencies is also a key area, especially now that more of our people are undertaking farming as commercial business ventures,” he added.
This also comes at a time when the Second Republic continues to capacitate extension workers with tools of the trade for high-impact results following the re-modelling of their mandate as agricultural business advisers.
“I challenge them to scale up their strategic role of assisting farmers in the ongoing agriculture transformation journey of our motherland, Zimbabwe. Government is equally seized with the need to capacitate the Grain Marketing Board with grain carrying vehicles to improve logistics and grain movement,” said President Mnangagwa.
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