Maravi

(HERALD) Govt releases US$6m for maize farmers

Govt releases US$6m for maize farmers
Friday, 22 July 2011 02:00
By Elita Chikwati

Government has released US$6,4 million to the Grain Marketing Board to pay farmers for maize deliveries made between April and June. GMB general manager, Mr Albert Mandizha, on Tuesday confirmed that Treasury had released US$6,4 million to cover 25 000 tonnes.

However, the parastatal requires an additional US$12,6million to pay for 44 000 tonnes. "An additional funding for deliveries made from 30th June to date is now required. We have since communicated this to the responsible authorities," he said.

Mr Mandizha said there has been an improvement in grain deliveries to the GMB depots in the past few weeks.

"A total of 20 611 tonnes was received in seven days during the week ending 14 July 2011.

"The cumulative delivery of grain to GMB depots currently stands at 69 592 tonnes, which is a massive improvement from last year's 46 244 tonnes during the same period," he said. This is a 50,5 percent increase in comparison to the same period last year.

Mr Mandizha said the strategic grain reserve stood at 65 percent as at July 14 this year. GMB is also offering farmers subsidised inputs for their grain.
Farmers have an option to swap their grains with inputs such as maize and seed available at some of the depots.

"This will ensure that farmers are ready for the next farming season on time, which will in turn position them for high yields," he said.

However, according to some GMB officials inputs for the swap programme were limited and were only available at selected GMB depots.

The inputs for the swap programme include fertilisers that were left from the winter wheat inputs scheme and cost US$15 per 50kg bag.

The parastatal encouraged farmers to continue delivering their maize with the accepted quality standard to GMB depots. Depots are under strict instructions not to accept maize that does not meet standards in terms of quality and moisture levels.

The acceptable moisture content is 12,5 percent or less.

GMB, which used to charge farmers US$5 for moisture content testing recently acquired new moisture metres and is now carrying out the operation for free.

GMB is on record failing to pay farmers timeously despite being among buyers offering high producer prices.

In most cases farmers end up selling their grain to other buyers who take advantage of the situation and offer them low prices.

GMB is buying maize at US$285 per tonne, while most private buyers are offering US$200 and below per tonne.

Farmers have from time to time called for the re-capitalisation of the GMB so that it will be able to buy grain and pay instantly.

On the other hand, some organisations are also lobbying Government to introduce duty on imported agricultural produce to cushion local farmers from competition with imported food, which is usually cheap.

GMB was established to ensure a strategic grain reserve and ensure food security in Zimbabwe with particular reference to maize and wheat.

Labels: GRAIN MARKETING BOARD ZIMBABWE, MAIZE

posted by MrK @ 11:14 PM