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Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
Government has invited tenders for the supply and installation of grain dryers at 12 Grain Marketing Board depots to address moisture complications on delivered grain and also reduce post-harvest losses. The depots include Concession, Banket, Lionsden, Karoi, Aspindale, Murehwa, Norton, Chegutu, Kwekwe, Bulawayo, Middle Sabi and Marondera.
According to the Government Gazette published last Friday, tenders are also invited from reputable and eligible bidders for the supply and delivery of 10 bag digital scales.
“Tenders are invited from reputable and eligible bidders for the supply and installation of grain dryers with a capacity of 50 tonnes. The closing date is 8th April 2018, at 1000hours. Details of the tender shall be contained in the invitation to tender (ITT) document obtainable from GMB head office,” read the Gazette.
Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri (Retired) recently assured legislators that Government was going to secure grain dryers to assist farmers.
“Government is looking around for dryers with an intention of installing dryers at the major GMB depots, especially those with grand silos, but we would also want to urge farmers to install their own farm dryers because Government has got limitations in terms of capacity. So farmers assist by taking the initiative,” he said.
Last season the country realised a bumper harvest, but farmers were having challenges attaining the required 12, 5 percent moisture content to deliver their grain to the GMB.
Most farmers were turned away from the GMB depots for delivering grain, which had a high moisture content.
This resulted in some farmers selling their grain to middlemen. Sources from the GMB said Government had tasked the parastatal to secure dryers.
“We are still at tendering stage and plan to have dryers at depots with silos and high maize and wheat producing areas, so that farmers can harvest their crops and plant winter crops, but still attain the moisture content required by the GMB.”
Online Reporter