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The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) said on Wednesday it is making strides to clear payment arrears to wheat farmers for last year’s crop following the disbursement by Treasury of US$4,6 million last week and another US$10 million this week.
In a statement, GMB said to date, payment of US$23,7 million had been made. The GMB sells wheat to Zimbabwean millers and before two years ago had sold the entire crop before the next crop was even sown. But in the last two years surpluses have been building up and thus the need for the Government to buy the desired reserves.
The clearance of outstanding payments is a serious priority and GMB appreciates the commitment of our farmers in ensuring national food self-sufficiency.
GMB assures of its commitment to continue playing a key role in the agriculture transformation agenda, it said.
Last month, the GMB cleared an outstanding US$2.8 million for maize and traditional grains that farmers delivered for the 2022-2023 summer cropping season.
Again the surpluses meant that the Government had to fund the strategic reserve, the grain that is not sold during the 12 months between each harvest. — New Ziana
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter