Staff Writer
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has identified and designated 18 intake depots for wheat collection, as it moves to assist farmers with the delivery of the winter produce before beginning of summer cropping season.
Addressing members of the press, at a post-cabinet briefing, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa advised that Cabinet had considered and adopted the Update Report on the 2021 Winter Wheat Production and Summer Crops Marketing, which was presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka and resolved to commence wheat harvesting.
“The public is informed that wheat harvesting has commenced with 65% of the harvest expected by the end of October 2021.
“The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has designated 18 intake depots for collecting wheat, and is purchasing quality control equipment as well as accelerating grain movement from the northern depots to the southern depots,” she said.
In an effort to control the reported cases of damage to wheat by Quelea birds, Government had since procured the necessary chemicals from Kenya and China, while allocation of combine harvesters and transporters was also being finalized by the AFC and GMB.
Regarding the delivery of the other strategic grains, Cabinet advised that the top 10 maize depots have received 57% of the expected maize, the top 10 traditional grains depots have received 78% of the intake, while the top 10 soyabean depots have received 77% of the deliveries to date.
Maize intake has increased by 547%, traditional grains by 726% and soyabean intake by 914%, this season compared to the same time last year.
On maize deliveries, a total of $1.5 billion was received from Treasury last week and cumulative receipts now amount to $33 038 772 364.37. Concerning cotton deliveries, the value of the seed cotton delivered to date stands at ZW$ 6.353 billion. Cottco has paid a total of ZW$2.226 billion and US$2 809 539 to farmers.
In terms of preparations for the forthcoming tobacco summer season, it was reported that some 83 938 farmers had registered for the 2021/22 tobacco season compared to 79 134 farmers that had registered at the same time last year, translating to a 6% increase.
GMB added that farmers will be notified on the designated deports for their convenience, in due course.
