Zhanda erred, GMB has capacity, says Made

AGRICULTURE minister Joseph Made yesterday quashed claims by his deputy Paddy Zhanda that the State-run Grain Marketing Board (GMB) had no capacity to buy this year’s maize crop as its grain silos were in a sorry state.

VENERANDA LANGA
SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER

Addressing a Press conference in Harare, Made said Zhanda’s utterances in the National Assembly last week were erroneous, adding that the GMB had been tasked to continuously buy maize from farmers throughout the season.

He said Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa and the Agricultural Marketing Authority had been tasked by Cabinet to mobilise financial resources to pay farmers for maize, including small grains.

“The GMB has been tasked by government to buy maize as it relates to the strategic grain reserve, which requires 500 000 metric tonnes annually, and I want to emphasise that the GMB is not a buyer of last resort,” Made said.

“The GMB is tasked to buy grain at the beginning of the season and it buys continuously, which means farmers deliver grain throughout the season at the first instance by the farmer’s choice.”

He said anyone, including millers, was also allowed to buy maize, but government had already pegged the floor price for the staple grain at $390 per metric tonne to protect farmers from being ripped off by private buyers.

Zhanda last week said: “GMB is a buyer of last resort and you do not have to sell your maize to GMB if there are people who can buy that maize. I am sure you are aware that there are some difficulties in terms of resources and, therefore, if you want to sell to GMB because GMB pays you better than any other buyer, then you must also be prepared to wait in the queue.”

But Made said currently, 5 400 metric tonnes had been delivered to GMB as compared to the previous 1 600 metric tonnes this time last season, adding GMB would open satellite depots in rural areas.

He denied reports that most of the GMB silos were in a sorry state.

“GMB infrastructure is not in a sorrowful (sic) state. We have some infrastructure which has reached a stage where we need major repairs, but we cannot say it is a sorry state. Some of the infrastructure requires workings in terms of power and energy, but we have put up temporary structures using poles, tarpaulins and grain bags,” Made said.

GMB deputy general manager (operations) Lawrence Jasi said the country’s silos had a holding capacity of 800 000 metric tonnes.

“We have 12 cylindrical silos with a combined capacity of 750 000 metric tonnes. Closed shed concrete slab silos can carry 175 000 metric tonnes, and structures using poles and tarpaulins can store 3,9 million metric tonnes temporarily during the dry season,” Jasi said.

On cotton, Made said the yield this year in terms of hectarage was better, but warned farmers to harvest their crop to prevent it against damage by veld fires and rains.

On livestock, Made said in a week’s time, government would be announcing national strategies on livestock.

“We must focus on the livestock sector and re-enter the European market in terms of beef. There is a niche market that relates to our beef and we want to participate in that sector because we are GMO [genetically-modified organisms]-free,” he said.

Made also said Cabinet position on GMOs was that they would not allow introduction of GMO materials, adding Zimbabwe was leading in developing GMO-free seed.