dyton mupawaenda
Edgar Vhera-Agriculture Specialist Writer
THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has cleared all payments for the 2023 summer crop intake and started wheat payments.
In a statement yesterday, the GMB said it had paid for all summer crops delivered to its depots.
“A total of $68, 6 billion has been paid, completing the local currency payment obligations to farmers for the summer intake. On the foreign currency component, payments have largely been made serve for US$2, 8 million which should be liquidated within no time,” said the statement.
Government set the maize and traditional grains producer prices at US$335 per tonne, with a split payment of US$200 in foreign currency plus US$135 in local currency at the ruling interbank rate.
For soyabean, the floor producer price was US$580 per tonne with farmers getting US$348 in foreign currency plus US$232 in local currency at the ruling interbank rate.
With sunflower, the floor producer price was US$696 per tonne and farmers received US$418 in foreign currency plus US$278 in local currency at the interbank rate.
The statement said payments for the winter wheat intake had also commenced with $5, 9 billion so far paid to farmers.
The GMB has so far taken delivery of 103 819 tonnes of wheat this marketing season.
Government set the wheat marketing price for the 2023 agricultural season at US$520, 25 per tonne payable under the split payment of 75 percent in foreign currency and 25 percent in local currency at the interbank rate.
Wheat farmers get US$390,19 in foreign currency plus US$130, 06 in local currency at the interbank rate of every Tuesday of the week.
“The GMB would want to apologise for delayed payments to our forever resilient and committed farmers who are spearheading the agricultural reform that has seen the country attaining food self-sufficiency. GMB reiterates its commitment to play its role in the national food security, especially in ensuring that farmers are paid on time,” the statement said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union secretary general Mr Paul Zakariya said delayed farmer payments will always be worrisome given that farmers have had to operate under very trying circumstances.
“Cash flows have remained very tight in a space where liquidity remains squeezed. The announcement by GMB is a bit reassuring albeit coming too late. For future intakes, GMB and every other off taker must be adequately financed and prepared to pay farmers in full and on time,” Mr Zakariya said.
“This is obviously a positive development as farmers need payment to fund their summer plans,” said Food Crop Contractors Association (FCCA) chairperson Mr Graeme Murdoch commenting on the announcement.
Meanwhile, some of the farmers who delivered their crops to GMB said they were still awaiting the transferred funds hitting their account as they had not yet reflected.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter