Deputy Minister Davis Marapira
Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
FARMERS have delivered close to 147 000 tonnes of maize to Grain Marketing Board depots countrywide.
The GMB is offering $390 per tonne and has so far paid farmers $53 million.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for Crops and Irrigation Davis Marapira yesterday said more farmers were delivering their grain to the GMB thanks to improvements in the payment system.
“Maize deliveries to date have reached 146 999 tonnes and GMB has paid $53 967 296 for the deliveries.
“For the past years farmers were no longer willing to sell their maize to GMB due to delays in payments. Farmers could go for a year without getting their payments and this also forced some to turn to cash crops such as tobacco and soyabeans,” he said.
Deputy Minister Marapira said the improvement in the payment system was expected to boost maize production.
He said the early payments were also enabling farmers to prepare adequately for the forthcoming summer cropping season.
“Farmers are also able to pay their labour timely. Last year some farmers were complaining of high staff turnover due to late payments of wages.
“GMB will continue to pay farmers early and encourage production of maize and this will put to an end the importation of cereals. The money meant for the importation of food will then be channelled towards other developmental projects and also used to empower local farmers,” he said.
Deputy Minister Marapira said GMB offered the best price which was meant to be an incentive for farmers to grow maize.
GMB is responsible for the maintenance of the strategic grain reserve.
Zimbabwe requires two million tonnes of grain for human and livestock consumption per annum.
Over the past few years, farmers have been reluctant to deliver their grain to GMB citing long delays in payment.
Farmers instead opted to sell their crop to private buyers who offered cash on the spot but took advantage of the situation by offering lower prices.