The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has received more than 28 400 tonnes of grain during this marketing season, which commenced on April 1.
Subsequently, farmers have been paid $500 million and US$2 million for grain delivered to GMB to date.
Addressing Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, said:
“Cabinet considered and adopted the fortnightly ‘Update on the Marketing of Summer Grains, Cotton and Tobacco and on the Winter Wheat Production Season’, as presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka.
“In the meantime, importation of mealie-meal will continue in order to ensure that consumers are cushioned from any market distortions which may occur. Government calls upon farmers to desist from side-marketing their grain,” she said.
According to the ‘Update on the Marketing of Summer Grains, Cotton and Tobacco and on the Winter Wheat Production Season’ report, the country has 454 277 tonnes of maize and traditional grains in stock.
This includes carry-over stock from last season.
Minister Mutsvangwa said grain intake is expected to peak this month until September.
She urged farmers to desist from side-marketing grain as 392 tonnes had been confiscated by GMB so far.
“Producers are encouraged to deliver early so that they take advantage of the incentive for early deliveries granted by Government,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Meanwhile, wheat stocks stand at 54 268 tonnes, which Government said is sufficient to meet local requirements.
