Conrad Mupesa Chinhoyi Bureau
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) has condemned illegal grain buyers in most parts of Mashonaland West Province.

The unscrupulous businesspeople have been on a spree, fleecing desperate farmers in need of cash.

In an interview, ZFU second vice-president Mr Barean Mukwende warned the illegal grain buyers they their actions could lead to prosecution.

Mr Mukwende also sits on the Agricultural Marketing Authority board.

“AMA stipulates that for one to buy grain, he/she should be licensed and on getting the license, they will be given the price structures that they are supposed to follow,” he said.

“If they underpay the farmers, they risk losing the licences and face prosecution. The same goes to all the illegal grain buyers who are sprouting all over the province. The long arm of the law will definitely catch up with them.”

Government gazetted a maize producer price of $390 per tonne and some middlemen are currently buying the maize at low prices of $1,50 a bucket.

The maize is later resold to the Grain Marketing Board, which is offering the gazetted price.

A recent survey by The Herald in Mhangura showed that at least 10 points of unlicensed grain buyers had already been established, offering prices of $6 per 50kg bag for maize and $15 for soya beans.

However, some of the farmers selling their produce at these points indicated that they had been forced to do so out of desperation.

“Government should do something about the cash shortages, which have contributed to the sprouting of illegal grain buyers,” a farmer said.

Mr Eddy Mashiri, a farmer at Finland Farm in Mhangura, said the farmers shun GMB, which takes time in distributing cash for deliveries.

“Most farmers shun delivering their grains to Grain Marketing Board as they are not given cash and at the same time virtual payments are done late.

“That’s why we end up opting for the illegal grain buyers as they save us time,” he said.

Tier pricing has also contributed to the emerging of the informal market as farmers who are paid electronically by GMB end up losing a lot of money through charges.