Govt still to announce maize producer price

producer price for this year, an official said over the week-end.
General manager Albert Mandizha said the selling season was already in full swing and farmers were being paid last year’s US$275 per tonne until a new price is announced.
“We encourage farmers to bring their grain to GMB and they will be paid last year’s price until advised,” he said. “We want to build the national grain reserves,” he added.
GMB has more than 250 000 metric tonnes of grain in stock with Zimbabwe requiring twice as much annually.
Mr Mandizha said since the beginning of the selling season, 1 400 tonnes of maize had been delivered.
He said early deliveries would also save farmers from extra production costs and post-harvest losses.
“Keeping grain for too long will cost farmers in fumigation and other related costs, which will limit their capacity to go back to the field,” he said.
“Farmers should leave handling and storage to the GMB by simply delivering their grain.”
Mr Mandizha said the parastatal would try to make payments timeously.
“Payments are triggered by deliveries. Continuous deliveries will keep the payment cycle alive,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mandizha said to avoid escalating transport costs, farmers should have their grain tested for moisture content before delivering it to GMB depots.
He urged farmers to send samples of their grain for moisture testing at their nearest GMB depot before delivery. The required moisture content is 12,5 percent.
GMB has been failing to meet the national grain reserve requirement owing to poor planning in the agriculture sector and persistent droughts that have been affecting the country over the years. – New Ziana.