tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
Government has set the pre-planting producer price for maize and traditional grains at US$335 per tonne, while soyabeans and sunflower will fetch
US$597,59 and US$687,23 per tonne, respectively.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, who jointly made the announcement with Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister Mr Clemence Chiduwa in Harare on Wednesday, said the cotton pre-planting producer price would be pegged per grade quality, which will range from US$0,40 per kg for grade D and US$0,46 for grade A cotton.
“A viable pre-planting producer price will incentivise farmers to commit more land under the specific strategic crops,” said Minister Masuka.
“The marketing and pricing system being proposed is consistent with achieving both food and nutrition security and macroeconomic stability.”
Government, he added, will soon come up with a legal instrument to compel the private sector to provide regular returns on imports, stocks and local purchases of strategic commodities in order to ensure real-time statistics of food availability.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter