NEW: US$13 million, ZiG115 million paid to wheat farmers

Theseus Shambare

At least US$13 million and ZWG115 million has been paid to farmers by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) for their wheat deliveries.

The parastatal still owes the farmers US$20,2 million and ZWG155 million.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail Online, GMB chief executive officer Dr Edson Badarai said Treasury was working diligently to ensure timely payments to farmers.

“Treasury continues to mobilise resources for farmer payments. We are committed to offering a service that is convenient for our farmers, and we will ensure that they receive their money as early as possible.

“Last week, farmer payments were at US$13 million, and this week we received ZWG115 million, and we have started to make payments. As of now, we owe a balance of US$20,2 million and ZWG115 million,” said Dr Badarai.

He said the timely payment of farmers was crucial for the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Mrs Monica Chinamasa and Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe urged the GMB to speed up the payments.

The country had harvested a record 518 502 tonnes of wheat from 106 238 hectares as of November 1, while the winter wheat harvesting process continues.

This year, a total of 119 594 hectares were put under winter wheat, compared to 91 000 hectares last year.

Recent statistics from the Agricultural Marketing Authority indicate that ARDA estates, irrigation schemes, and joint venture initiatives accounted for 51 percent of all the planted crop.

AFC Holdings came second, contributing 16 362 hectares with the help of 199 farmers, while the Presidential Input Programme came third, cultivating wheat on 10 541 hectares with the highest number of growers at 7 999.

Other financial institutions, millers, self-financed farmers, and contractors accounted for the remaining 32 286 hectares (27 percent) from 1 597 farmers.

This year, the Government is targeting 550 000 tonnes of wheat, an 18 percent increase from the 465 546 tonnes achieved last year.