Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
THE Grain Marketing Board says it is fully prepared for the 2025–26 grain marketing season, with 89 depots and 1 804 mobile grain collection points now operational countrywide to facilitate deliveries and support farmers.
Speaking at GMB Aspindale in Harare yesterday, GMB operations director Mr Patrick Muzvimbiri said the board had improved its payment system and was now paying farmers promptly after clearing all outstanding United States dollar arrears.
“GMB has cleared all outstanding farmer payments in terms of the US dollar component, to the point where farmers who delivered yesterday (Monday) are being paid today (yesterday),” said Mr Muzvimbiri.
“This year, farmers are enjoying prompt payments and we are encouraging them to continue bringing in more grain.”
Mr Muzvimbiri said GMB had also upgraded its storage infrastructure, including the introduction of artificial intelligence-driven silos designed to improve grain quality management and storage efficiency.
“The artificial intelligence-driven silos have brought confidence to private players.
“Hence, they are bringing in their grain for quality management and storage in these facilities,” he said.
The modern facilities have already attracted significant business from private sector players.
Mr Muzvimbiri said in terms of third-party storage, GMB already has over 70 000 tonnes in its silos.
“This speaks to the massive storage facilities that we are utilising and extending to third parties, including millers and stockfeed manufacturers,” he said.
GMB has also expanded its grain collection network to reduce transport costs for farmers by bringing buying points closer to farming communities.
It has started mobilising grain across all these facilities to ensure that farmers deliver closer to their farms, cutting all logistics costs.
The mobile collection points are also being used to aggregate grain on behalf of private sector companies.
Mr Muzvimbiri said through the 1 804 mobile collection points, GMB is also aggregating grain on behalf of millers, stockfeed manufacturers and any other players that would want to come in and use their grain aggregation services. The decentralised collection system is expected to strengthen the country’s food security programme while improving grain intake efficiency nationwide.
“Further to that, GMB is also pushing its mandate of maintaining the Strategic Grain Reserve. Through these collection points and our 89 depots, GMB is massively engaging in grain intake,” he said. “As you can see, trucks are delivering as we speak. This is grain intake that is coming in and we really appreciate the support that our hardworking farmers are giving to GMB.”
Mr Muzvimbiri also commended Government for supporting GMB through improved logistics and infrastructure development.
“We appreciate the support that we are getting from our minister (Dr Anxious Masuka) and the innovative interventions that have led to timely payment of farmer deliveries,” said Mr Muzvimbiri.
“You can also see the GMB trucks that were donated by the Second Republic, which we are utilising for logistics to ensure that farmers and private players are fully supported.”
The widespread establishment of grain collection points countrywide demonstrates GMB’s readiness for the marketing season, said Mr Muzvimbiri.
