Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau

GOVERNMENT has bemoaned double standard tendencies being portrayed by some CBZ-Agro-yield contracted farmers who are currently side marketing grains.

Addressing farmers during a tour of three farms contracted under Command Agriculture in Mashonaland West today, Minister of State in charge of Monitoring the Implementation of Special Agriculture and Related Programmes David Mharapira said side marketing of soya beans was alarming.

“The major problem that we are currently faced with is side marketing of soya beans which is bad and as Ministers involved in agriculture, we are disturbed.

“We however, want to find out from farmers why there is side marketing as this affects our agriculture recovery strategy plan,” he said.

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos said while farmers were raising concerns over prices, a negotiating forum that deliberates on the prices is always arrived at by all concerned parties including farmers.

Mr Farai Chirinda of Fundisai Estates in Makonde said side marketing was a sign of indiscipline from farmers but added that there was need for Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to improve its payment system.

Mr Tinashe Ziki of Highbury Farm in Mhangura said the Government should come up with good pricing models for high value crops like soya beans to encourage farmers to deliver to the GMB.

Another farmer, Mr Brink Bosman who is privately contracted urged Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) to address to challenges being faced by farmers for a successful winter wheat crop.

The three farmers are expected to put nearly 1 500 hectares under wheat this season contibuted significantly to the province’s target of 34 000 and nation’s 75 000 wheat wheat hectare target.