Zimbabwean Vice President Joyce Mujuru said on Wednesday Zimbabwe, which is constantly faced with food shortages in recent years, is targeting zero import of grain from January next year.

"Our focus now should be to ensure that we grow more maize and wheat to replenish strategic stocks and stop all imports," the Vice President said when she addressed farmers at the Seed-Co Rattray Arnold Research Station field day.

"The imports are taking money meant for other developmental projects such as building of bridges, dams and electricity transmission to rural areas." She said last year alone the government channeled at least 60 million U.S. dollars towards the importation of grain.

Mujuru called on the Ministry of Lands and Land Reform and the Ministry of Agriculture to give farmers the necessary support to enhance agricultural production.

Meanwhile, Seed-Co Zimbabwe, one of the country's leading seed producers, has introduced new maize varieties which are drought tolerant and suitable for various ecological regions, in line with government's efforts to help farmers get good farming yields.

Industry and International Trade Minister, Obert Mpofu, recently expressed concern over the poor performance of the agricultural sector, saying it was hindering the government's efforts in turning around the economy.

Agricultural production in Zimbabwe has been affected in the past five years by movements due to the land reform exercise, recurrent droughts and shortage of inputs resulting in late plantings.

The situation compelled the government to import grain to avert starvation among the majority of Zimbabwe.

This season the rains have been good and the country is headed for a bumper harvest despite an invasion of army worm in January.

At its peak, Zimbabwe's agriculture sector accounted for about 16.5 percent of gross domestic product, 33 percent of foreign exchange earnings and 26 percent of employment.

Source: Xinhua