GMB credit scheme came late: Khumalo

In an interview, ZCFU president Mr Donald Khumalo said the credit scheme by GMB was coming late and would be insignificant in supporting farmers’ efforts to restore the country as the food basket for Southern Africa.
“The decision by Government to direct GMB to sell farming inputs on credit this farming season is coming when we are already outside the farming period,” he said.

He said the decision to unveil agriculture inputs on credit to farmers at this time when the planting season had already progressed significantly would not serve the objective of the farmers.
“As farmers, we have in the past promulgated the need for GMB to sell inputs on credit as early as October. Despite how noble a decision may be, a belated decision is as good as a bad decision. Such a scheme should have been availed early so that farmers could secure inputs on time,” he said.
Over the past farming seasons, the farmers have bemoaned working capital constraints to secure inputs such as seed, fertiliser and chemicals.