Staff Reporter

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has confirmed that all outstanding payments to farmers for grain delivered during the 2023/24 marketing season have been settled, providing much-needed relief to local producers.

During the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the CEO of GMB, Dr Edson Badarai, highlighted that the parastatal no longer owes farmers for maize and small grains deliveries.

"In terms of maize deliveries, we fully paid for them. As of last week Friday, we received US$13 million and ZW$115 million in local currency. We have already completed the payment of the US dollars, and this will go a long way in alleviating the strain that was on farmers, especially as they prepare for the summer season. We believe this will be a catalyst for increased productivity on the farms." said Dr Badarai .

Dr Badarai also refuted reports suggesting that GMB still owes farmers for deliveries from previous seasons.
“There is no farmer from previous seasons who has not been paid. However, some farmers may not have been paid due to various reasons. We encourage them to come forward, and they will be paid immediately," he said.

However, Dr Badarai acknowledged that while payments for maize and small grains had been completed, GMB still owes farmers for wheat deliveries.
“As of now, we owe US$21 million for wheat. We believe that by the end of this month, we will have completed the payment for wheat," he added.

According to statistics from the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), as of November 1, 2024, Zimbabwean farmers had harvested 518,502 tonnes of wheat from 106,238 hectares. The country had put 119,594 hectares under winter wheat this year, up from 91,000 hectares in 2023, showing a significant increase in wheat production.
The full payment of maize and small grain deliveries is seen as a positive step for farmers as they gear up for the summer season, with many now hoping for similar swift payments for wheat, which remains crucial for the country’s food security.