admin
Agriculture Reporter
IN a move aimed at incentivising farmers, Government has set new producer prices for the 2023 season for strategic crops like maize, traditional grains, soyabean and sunflower.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, made the announcement yesterday.
A floor producer price of US$335 per metric tonne for maize and traditional grains will now be paid by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
GMB will pay US$580 and US$696 per tonne respectively for soyabeans and sunflower.
Payments will be made in part foreign currency and local currency at the prevailing interbank rate.
A pre-planting producer price of US$520 per metric tonne of wheat has also been set by Government.
“A floor producer price of US$335 per metric tonne of maize and traditional grains is paid to farmers by GMB as US$200 in foreign currency plus US$135 in local currency.
“US$580 per metric tonne for soya beans paid as US$348 in foreign currency and US$232 in local at the interbank rate,” said Minister Masuka.
All contractors are allowed to buy back contracted crops following Government’s liberalisation of the marketing of grain.
Farmers who finance their own operations can also sell their produce on the market or to GMB.
Online Reporter