The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE bumper harvest expected this year could help farmers make good their investments as the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) will be timeously paying viable producer prices for cereals and soya bean to restore confidence in the sector and preserve the value of farmers’ earnings.
GMB has committed to pay farmers within 72 hours of delivery.
Crop production has been good due to a combination of an aggressive agricultural plan, sufficient rains and good agronomic practices.
Farmland that had been lying idle for years was transformed into bastions of mass-scale production, with Zimbabwe expecting to produce between 2.5 million and 2.8 million tonnes of maize and 360 000 tonnes of traditional grains, the largest yield to be achieved since the start of the fast-track land reform programme in 2000.
About two million tonnes of cereals, including 1,8 million tonnes of maize, and 200 000 tonnes of traditional grain, are expected to be delivered to GMB this marketing season.
About 1 800 mobile buying points will be established countrywide.
GMB is paying $32 000 for a tonne of maize, $38 000 for traditional grain and $48 000 for wheat and soya bean.
Buoyed by the bumper harvest, farmers are now anticipating timeous payments to recoup production costs.
Treasury will inject $60 billion to GMB to pay for the grain deliveries.
As Government moves to ameliorate harvesting, an additional 72 and 21 combine harvesters from the John Deere facility and the Belarus programme will be mobilised respectively, while 25 non-functional combine harvesters are being repaired. About 200 shellers will be availed through the Land Bank Special Purpose Vehicle, ARDA and GMB on a cost recovery basis, while 13 more mobile grain dryers, each with a capacity of 28 metric tonnes per shift and 140 metric tonnes per day, will be imported.
Last year, GMB received 259 345 tonnes of maize as the season was hampered by drought.
The country’s woes were further compounded by the stiff competition that GMB faced from private buyers as farmers’ payments were being delayed, hence the move to pay farmers within 72 hours of delivery.
GMB chief executive Mr Rockie Mutenha said they have submitted cash flows to Treasury and funds will be released on a monthly basis.
“We are happy that Treasury has committed to fund GMB to enable it to procure the much anticipated bumper harvest. All things being equal, we want to pay farmers within three to seven days of delivery.
“GMB has just introduced a farmers card linked to VISA. This will enable farmers to do their normal banking transactions. The card lessens the waiting period between delivery and payment since no transfers between banks will be needed.
“We have also decentralised the payment system. That means farmers will be paid at their respective depots of delivery. Shuttling papers between our depots and head office has proved to be a logistical nightmare in the past and we hope this decentralisation will shorten the farmers’ payment period,” said Mr Mutenha.
Mr Mutenha said the accepted moisture content for grain delivered to GMB is 12.5 percent.
“GMB accepts maize with a moisture content of 12.5 percent or below for maize and traditional grains. This is done to ensure that the grains can be stored for a longer time without compromising quality.
“As an organisation charged with ensuring well-being of the country’s strategic grain reserve, we are doing everything possible to avoid post-harvest losses,” said Mr Mutenha.
Farmers who spoke to The Manica Post Business said GMB’s new strategies will encourage them to up their game.
Rural development expert, Professor Joseph Kamuzhanje, hailed the Government sponsored schemes like Command Agriculture and Pfumvudza for capacitating the farmers to exploit their full potential.
“GMB must keep its promise on paying for the delivered grain on time. This will restore confidence in a sector where payment delays have been an issue,” said Prof Kamuzhanje.
Commercial farmer, Mr Lovemore Gijima-Msindo of Gijima Farm in Headlands said the producer price should respond to the quality and quantity supplied to help the agricultural sector growth.
“Farmers do not need more motivation other than timeous payment. We expect GMB to honour its word. Once they do that, you will witness miracles during the winter wheat season as farmers will stive to produce even more,” said Mr Msindo.
Another farmer, Mr Shepard Nyika, whose scale of production impressed a high powered delegation led by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Nokhutula Matsikenyere last week, said GMB should establish more collection points in the countrysides to bust middlemen who are exploiting farmers.
“GMB should establish more collection points in all remote areas to protect small-holder farmers from unscrupulous buyers who offer very low prices.
“Farmers need to be paid fair prices to increase their profitability and enable them to investment in productive assets and new agricultural technology to ensure the country’s food security,” said Mr Nyika.
Small-holder farmer, Mr Shupikai Mvurumutiya of Mapembe, Odzi, said GMB should carry out campaigns to sensitise small-holder communities about the prevailing market prices.
“Information about market prices is key – yet we do not know much about it due to our villages’ remoteness and poor communication. If farmers lack the necessary information they are likely to fall prey to exploitative middlemen,” said Mr Mvurumutiya.
