Theseus Shambare
THE Government has significantly increased producer prices for strategic grains and shifted to paying farmers exclusively in US dollars upon delivery to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), in a move aimed at bolstering national food security.
The GMB announced the new prices on Friday, which are effective immediately.
Farmers will now receive US$390 per tonne for maize and traditional grains, which is now being paid entirely in forex.
Sunflower seeds will now fetch US$720 per tonne, up from US$696, while the producer price for soya beans has been set at US$620 per tonne, up from US$580.
Previously, farmers were paid a mix of US dollars and the local currency for their crops.
This mixed payment system, along with lower prices compared to those offered by private millers, reportedly led many farmers to sell their crops to private buyers at the expensive of the country’s Strategic Grain Reserves.
GMB chief executive officer Dr Edson Badarai said: “Yes, the payments are in US dollars. The idea is to channel all the resources towards ensuring our people are food-secure at all costs. We need to ensure our grain reserves are filled up.
“GMB reiterates its commitment to play its role in ensuring national food security and Treasury has undertaken to consistently release funds to pay farmers.”
Dr Badarai said GMB will continue to work with Treasury to prioritise farmer payments for the upcoming season.
“We are encouraging farmers to deliver maize and other grains to GMB and payment will be made within 21 days,” he said.
“Having our silos full will ensure that the whole nation is well-fed and no one will die of hunger, as promised by President Mnangagwa.”
He said resources had been set aside to ensure early distribution of inputs to over 3,5 million smallholder farmers under the climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa scheme during the forthcoming 2024-25 summer cropping season.
“This year, we will roll out the summer cropping season inputs distribution on time,” said Dr Badarai. “The GMB has introduced virtual depots where inputs are distributed directly from the supplier to the distribution point.
“This strategy will ensure timeous distribution directly to the beneficiary, as well as reduce transport costs.”
