Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
Farmers have started harvesting wheat with the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) already receiving deliveries from different areas across the country. Most of the farmers who are delivering are the ones who benefited from the Command Agriculture programme. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister (Cropping), Davis Marapira confirmed that wheat harvesting had started in most areas and assured farmers that the GMB depots had enough space to cater for the crop.
“We have received over 1,2 million tonnes of maize from the 2016 /17 summer cropping season and we still have enough capacity to take in wheat,” he said.
“We have enough space, not only for the wheat being harvested, but for any crop we have recommended for delivery and payments into our GMB depots.”
GMB cylindrical silos have a capacity of 700 000 tonnes for all grains, while the hard stands cater for 3,3 million tonnes.
Deputy Minister Marapira said he had visited several GMB depots and directed that they ensure more storage facilities were created for the wheat, so that no farmer would experience challenges.
“Wheat is not as much as the maize, and farmers have mobilised combine harvesters,” he said.
“We are expecting around 100 000 tonnes, unlike maize.”