Minister Joseph Made

Felex Share Harare Bureau—
THE government has released $15 million to the Grain Marketing Board for payment to farmers who delivered their grain to the national granary. The development will enable farmers to prepare for the forthcoming agricultural season. This comes as farmers’ representatives yesterday called on the government to put in place mechanisms that ensure ordinary farmers who delivered their grain also benefit from the disbursement.

Farmers claim GMB prioritises politicians and those “with big names” when paying for grain delivered to the national silo.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made confirmed the release of the funds on Friday saying the money was ready for disbursement and farmers with outstanding amounts from last season would be paid.

“The Treasury has released $15 million and the resources are already with the GMB as of yesterday (Thursday),” he said.

“This is in line with the promise by Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa during the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement last week that he was going to prioritise the farmers such that they start preparing for the new season.”

He added: “He (Minister Chinamasa) has recognised farmers who have delivered grain which is being used in depressed areas. The money would cover grain delivered the season preceding the current one and also that grain which is being delivered.”

In his Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement, Minister Chinamasa said Zimbabwe required at least $1,7 billion to fund crop production during the 2015-2016 summer cropping season.

Minister Made said favouritism would not be tolerated.

“They should give priority to every farmer, in particular small-scale farmers who have sacrificed a lot by delivering what they have to the GMB,” he said.

Though the money is not enough to pay all farmers, they have continued delivering maize to the GMB with 26,950 tonnes of maize having been delivered to the national silo this year.

This year farmers delivered grain worth $10,5 million.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Wonder Chabikwa said most GMB officials were not following the government instructions to prioritise ordinary farmers.

“A farmer doesn’t have another name except being called a farmer and anyone who has made deliveries should be considered and treated equally,” he said.

“In fact, those who deliver first should be paid first. People have been calling us complaining that instead of covering two seasons at once, government should have cleared arrears from the previous season and then pay those who are currently delivering grain at a later stage when the resources become available.”

Chabikwa said food security at household level was also important and small-scale farmers needed to be treated with great respect.

“They also need to plan and all along they’ve been complaining that they aren’t being treated fairly,” he said.

“To them, money disbursements will remain nothing if they don’t get hold of the money themselves and they would view it as if the government is doing nothing.”

Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers’ Association Nkomo Trust president Depinah Nkomo said there should be no bureaucracy when it comes to farming.

“We all contribute to the national silo and our efforts should be considered equally,” she said.

“If the current situation isn’t addressed, it means smallholder farmers will never grow. What pains us is that some of those with big names who get paid first aren’t even farmers.

“They use their financial power and go around provinces buying grain from stranded farmers at lower prices for resale to the GMB.”

This year the government targets to assist 300,000 vulnerable households through inputs support schemes at a cost of $28 million.

The inputs support package will comprise a 10kg bag of maize seed, a 50kg bag of Compound D and a bag of Ammonium Nitrate for top dressing fertilisers.