Staff Reporter

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has announced that it would be accepting high moisture content maize in order to allow early winter wheat planting.

In a statement yesterday, the GMB Operations Director, Forward Takaindisa revealed that the parastatal would be accepting maize with a moisture content of up to 13.5 percent, a move set to benefit winter farmers.

"In view of the late planting of the summer crop due to late rains and the need to ensure winter wheat production, we recommend the following to farmers who want to do early harvesting of maize to pave way for early planting of wheat on time.

“Maize moisture at intake temporarily revised upwards from 12.5 percent to 13.5 percent until further notice and maize received at moisture content above 12.5 percent will be stored separately and disposed urgently to millers for processing," said Takaindisa.

Meanwhile, the Government has suspended grain imports up to next year following a self-sufficient season, a move that is envisioned to save US$300 million from import bills.

According to the Minister of  Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, Zimbabwe’s estimated maize production stood at 2 298 281metric tonnes (MT), a 58% increase on the 1 453 031 MT produced in the 2021/2022 season.

Minister Masuka attributed the increased production to well-distributed rainfall received in the country in both space and time. The Minister added that both humans and livestock wiould have adequate consumption

Earlier this year, the Ministry released a report on the country’s state of preparedness for the 2023/24 farming season which unequivocally indicated that this year’s focus was on increased productivity with the target areas for the major crops meant to grow by 10%.