The Sunday Mail
Government will disburse US$55 million to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) before year end to settle the US$37 million debt owed to farmers who delivered grain in the 2013/2014 summer cropping season.
A top official from the Finance and Economic Planning Ministry told The Sunday Mail last week that the funds would be availed before December 31 to enable farmers to buy farming inputs.
“We do not want to inconvenience farmers thus we are working flat out to make sure that they are paid their balances by the end of this year,” said the official who requested anonymity.
Farmers delivered over 200 000 tonnes to the GMB in the 2013/2014 summer cropping season surpassing the 2012/2013 season where 33 275 tonnes were delivered.
Presenting the 2015 budget, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the Government would continue releasing funds to pay farmers their dues.
“In terms of the grain procurement, deliveries to the GMB for the current marketing season now stand at 239 042 tonnes valued at $93,2 million well within our projected target of 250 000 metric tonnes for the season,” said the minister. “The overall support under the strategic grain reserve now stands at $81,9 million, with a sum of $51,5 million having now been mobilised from the market through issuance of agricultural marketing authority bills.
“Of this amount, as at 13 November 2014, $57,6 million has been paid to farmers for grain, $22 million for handling and storage charges while $2 million was for payment for grain importation charges from last year.”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Mr Wonder Chabikwa urged Government to pay farmers in time to ensure the nation meets its food security targets.
“If the delay in paying farmers who sold grain to the GMB persists, it will have a negative effect on production,” he said
“96 percent of agriculture is self-financing and most farmers who sold grain to the GMB do not have farming inputs at the moment because they do not have money.
“This issue has to be taken as a matter of urgency, whatever resources that are there, Government has to channel them to farmers or else Government will be forced to import maize to feed the nation next year.
“If they can pay farmers by early next week, farmers might be able to buy inputs and cover up for the lost time … It has to be soon with the changing rainfall patterns,” he said.
