adminfor maize and wheat. Despite offering the best prices on the market of US$295 per tonne, GMB has been failing to attract farmers because it takes too long to pay them for the deliveries.
In a recent statement, GMB corporate communications manager Mrs Muriel Zemura said the company only received a total of 81 190 tonnes of maize from farmers during the 2012/13 marketing season.
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This is a decrease from the previous season’s intake of 205 657 tonnes of maize.
The crop assessment report had indicated that nearly a million tonnes of maize were expected during the 2012/13 season and out of this less than 100 000 tonnes went to the GMB depots.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union second vice president, Mr Berean Mukwende said the low deliveries to the GMB had a negative impact on the strategic grain reserve. He said most farmers were selling their maize to stockfeed manufacturers who were offering a higher price and a better payment method.
“Farmers would rather dispose their grain to buyers offering competitive prices. GMB should improve the payment system and farmers will be willing to sell their grain to the parastatal,” he said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union’s weekly market guide shows that many private buyers were offering farmers cash while others were offering seven-day transfer.
Online Reporter