GMB sets price for winter wheat

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) will buy winter wheat for US$524,56 a tonne, it announced yesterday as farmers start planting, aiming to hit the optimum window for high yields after Cabinet approved the measure.

In a statement yesterday, GMB said the Government had set the incentive, producer planting and pre-planting price for the 2026 winter wheat season.

“Following extensive consultations with stakeholders, the Government has approved the incentive for producer planting and pre-planting price for 2026 winter wheat season. The price for the 2026 winter wheat season is US$524,56 per tonne,” said GMB.

Last season, the wheat marketing prices (per tonne) were US$461,35 for the premium grade, while the utility/standard grade price was US$451,35.

The winter wheat proposed target is 125 000 hectares to produce an estimated 662 500 tonnes of wheat.
The Government has since assured farmers that going forward, the GMB would pay farmers within 30 days of delivery as per the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), indicating that as of April 24, 2026, GMB had settled 88,26 percent of United States’ dollar obligations and 82,73 percent of ZiG payments.

An outstanding amount of US$4 309 966,02 and ZiG61 864 791,66 will soon be paid to farmers.

This season, wheat production will be financed under the climate-proofed Pfumvudza/Intwasa, self-financed farmers, National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (Neaps), financed by AFC and CBZ, Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (Arda) and private contractors.

Wheat production leapt more than sixfold from 100 044 tonnes in 2019 to 640 195 last year.
The country requires 360 000 tonnes of wheat per annum, although more is now being eaten since self-sufficiency was reached in 2022, when 375 000 tonnes were harvested.

Under the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS 2), wheat production is projected to rise to 1 388 000 tonnes by 2030, while the gross value will increase from US$342 million to US$541 million.

The wheat value chain’s contribution at the inception of AFSRTS 2 will be three percent of total Agriculture Gross Value in 2026 and rise to 3,4 percent in the 2030 season.

Wheat is mainly used as a human food in the form of bread, pasta products, breakfast cereals, cake and many others. It is an active contributor to the country’s gross domestic product.

Over the years, demand for wheat has been rising due to increases in population growth, urban populations, and changes in consumer tastes and preferences, thereby outstripping supply.

This necessitated imports to fill the gap, while hard wheat was also required.
Research has identified suitable varieties of durum wheat, the main hard wheat, for production trials.