Agriculture Reporter
Government continues to call upon farmers to deliver their grain to GMB depots as timeous payments are guaranteed.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during yesterday’s Post Cabinet Press Briefing.
In terms of the Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 for Maize, Statutory Instrument 96 of 2021 for cotton and Statutory Instrument 97 of 2021 for Soya bean, all these grains are controlled products whose movement is restricted. The commodities must be delivered to designated contractors and any side marketing of contracted commodities attracts penalties.
All 2.5 million households contracted under the Climate-Proofed Presidential Input Scheme (Pfumvudza/Intwasa) are expected to deliver all their surplus to GMB, where payments are being made within 72 hours.
Minister Mutsvangwa said current grain deliveries to the GMB were encouraging, compared to same period last year.
“As of yesterday (21st June, 2021), total maize delivered to Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots across the country stood at 240 204 metric tonnes, significantly up from the 63 916 metric tonnes received at the same time last year. The quantity of soybeans has similarly increased to 9 858 metric tonnes, versus the 956 metric tonnes delivered at the same time last year. The traditional grain tonnage delivered has recorded a phenomenal increase to 21 844 metric tonnes from the 1 646 metric tonnes delivered during the 2020 comparative period. Government takes this opportunity to call upon farmers to continue delivering their grain to GMB depots as timeous payments are guaranteed,” she said.
Zimbabwe this year is expected to produce between 2.5 million to 2.8 million tonnes of maize and 360 000 tonnes of traditional grains, in what could turn out to be the largest yield achieved by the country since the fast track land reform commenced in 2000.
Regarding the winter wheat production season, Minister Mutsvangwa highlighted that a total of 61 801 hectares have so far been planted, a 53% increase from the area planted during the comparative 2020 period. A total of 4 467.9 hectares have been planted under the Presidential Wheat Scheme, while the Command/CBZ Agro-yield Scheme has planted 41 935.7 hectares this year, an increase of 25% from the 33 603 hectares planted last year.
The Tobacco Marketing Season has also recorded good results, with a total of over 152.8 million kilograms having been sold to realize more than US$415.8 million, compared to the 124.5 million kilograms sold for US$296.9 million in 2020.
“The country’s average prices at US$2.72 per kg remain firmer than those prevailing in the region. On cotton, it is advised that 145 000 metric tonnes are expected to be delivered from the established 287 107 hectares during the current marketing season,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
