adminZvifadzo Lubombo Herald Reporter
The Grain Marketing Board will soon commission a US$30 million stock-feed plant to expand its revenue base in terms of an ongoing commercialisation programme.The initiative is meant to boost revenue inflows of the parastatal, which has on many occasions failed to timeously pay farmers who deliver grain to its depots.
GMB corporate communications officer Mr Joseph Katete yesterday said the parastatal would commission the plant in November as it embraces entrepreneurial initiatives to ensure food security and income generation.
“Our strategic focus is building internal production capacity and integrating GMB business activities to ensure food security,” he said.
Mr Katete said the new plant, once operational, was expected to ease present bottlenecks in supply of stockfeeds.
“The plant will be producing feed for a variety of livestock including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, pets and ostriches,” he added.
The plant would have a capacity to produce 10 tonnes of stock-feed per hour amounting to 10 000 tonnes of stock feed per month.
The Grain Marketing Board has separated its commercial activities from its strategic grain reserve function.
It is now involved in maize milling, flour production, pre-packs trading and bakeries, stock-feed and silo products.
The Government entity has 84 depots countrywide.
The grain dealer is set to commission maize milling plants in Mutare, Masvingo and Gweru by next year with the capacity expected to rise to 10 000 tonnes per month.
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