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Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Maize prices have remained stable over the last three months as farmers in some areas have started harvesting their early planted summer crops, the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union Weekly Market Guide has revealed. The guide states that Bulawayo has the highest wholesale price for maize with the commodity selling at $25 per 50 kilogramme bag since February.“Despite the poor harvests owing to the El Nino, maize prices have remained stable in the last few months. In most provinces, maize prices have dropped slightly as there seems to be an improved supply of grain from areas that thrived in the just ended season.
“Prices are likely to drop though insignificantly due to the poor harvest.
“Midlands and Mashonaland East have the lowest maize wholesale prices at $14 per 50kg bag,” read the market guide. Zimbabwe National Farmers’ Union spokesman Mr Garikayi Msika said it was premature to speculate on maize prices.
He said some farmers had started harvesting, but this was of low significance to the national supply. “The moisture content on the bulk of the crop is still very high. Even if farmers harvest their summer crops we do not see a drastic decline in maize prices because already there is a shortage in the country and regionally.
Online Reporter