The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
More than 160 000 metric tonnes of grain have been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) since the inception of the grain intake season, with maize producers in Manicaland calling for swift deployment of more combine harvesters to speed up harvesting.
Of the 160 000t delivered to date, maize accounts for 138 000, which marks a 90 percent increase for the maize delivered during the same period last year.
About 40 000t of traditional grains have also been delivered, while soya bean deliveries stands at 8 000t.
Zimbabwe is expecting to produce a bumper harvest of between 2.5 million and 2.8 milliont of maize as well as 360 000t of traditional grains, the largest yield since the land reform programme started in 2000.
The good crop is attributed to the Government sponsored Pfumbvudza and Command Agriculture programmes which saw farmers increasing production while maintaining low costs of production.
GMB corporate communications manager, Mr Nixon Kanyemba said the company is paying for deliveries within 72 hours to preserve the value of farmers’ earnings.
Mr Kanyemba said GMB is paying $32 000 per tonne of maize, $38 000 for traditional grains and $48 000 for soya bean.
“As at May 31, 2021, all farmers had been paid what was due to them. We are paying the farmers within 72 hours of deliveries made at our depots and five working days for grain delivered to our collection points,” said Mr Kanyemba.
However, activity at the GMB depots in Manicaland remains subdued due to sluggish harvesting.
Grain is trickling in drips and drabs.
A2 and commercial farmers who spoke to The Manica Post Business early this week said harvesting is being hampered by shortage of combine harvesters.
Through a Special Purpose Vehicle facility under the AFC Bank, Government recently dispatched four combine harvesters to Manicaland to speed up maize harvesting.
However, demand remains high.
The combine harvesters, which are part of the US$51 million Belarus mechanisation facility which was launched by President Mnangagwa last year, are loaned to farmers with payments getting settled through a stop order facility after delivering the produce to GMB.
Mr Booker Chinamasa of Kelvin Farm in Headlands, who has 180 hectares under maize, said his crop is ready for harvesting but getting a combine harvester is proving to be difficult due to the high demand.
“The field is ready for harvesting but getting a combine harvester is a headache. It is impossible to harvest 180ha manually. We are appealing for more combine harvesters in Makoni to speed up harvesting,” said Mr Chinamasa.
Manicaland provincial mechanisation officer, Engineer Nhlanhla Magama said efforts were underway to secure two more combine harvesters before the end of this week.
“The demand for combine harvesters is increasing with each passing day. Those who need combine harvesters can either contact the SPV, their nearest Agribank or the department of mechanisation. Harvesting is in progress. We already have four combine harvesters on the ground and we are expecting two more to meet increasing demand. As of last week we had harvested 200ha in Makoni and Chipinge,” said Eng Magama.
“We had a false start last week due to the rain showers and combine harvesters could not operate. By now they should be in the fields,” said Eng Magama.
He added that privately owned combine harvesters are not readily available.
“The owners are commercial farmers who obviously cannot assist other farmers before they are done with their own crop. Even when their crop is not yet ready, they will not release the combine harvesters to the other farmers for fear of breakdowns,” said Eng Magama.
Grain deliveries are expected to increase as harvesting improves.
ln anticipation of increased volumes in the coming weeks, the GMB is setting up additional buying points in Manicaland.
The grain intake season started on April 1 at the 1 400 buying points countrywide.
All 84 GMB depots are operating daily, including on weekends, to facilitate uninterrupted grain deliveries.
Arrangements have been made for transporters of the grain to be paid through a stop order.
The moisture content allowed at GMB is 12.5 percent or below to ensure that grains can be stored for longer periods without compromising their quality.
