GRAIN deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board for the 2016/17 farming season have doubled to 60 000 tonnes compared to the corresponding period, an official said.

Farmers started delivering to the GMB in April.

GMB vice chairman, Basilio Sandumo told The Source during a tour of GMB facilities at Aspindale in Harare by members of parliament  that grain deliveries have been affected with high moisture content.

“So far we have received 60 000 tonnes of maize which is double the prior season deliveries and we are expecting it to be higher as we reach peak period in July. I believe that by then the moisture content will be low,” said Sandumo.

Zimbabwe this week banned maize imports to protect local farmers after producing enough to meet demand.

The country is expecting to harvest more than two million tonnes of grain, more than enough to meet the country’s demand estimated at 1,8 million tonnes, just a year after a drought in the left over four million people in need of food aid.

The GMB is paying $390 per tonne for white maize. –The Source