Online Reporter
Grain deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) have risen by 122 percent compared with the same period last year, reflecting a strong response from farmers following good rains in the 2025/2026 cropping season. Zimpapers Reporter PRECIOUS MANOMANO recently spoke to GMB chief executive officer Dr Edson Badarai about the bountiful harvest, farmer payments, expanded mobile buying points, storage capacity and efforts to rebuild Zimbabwe’s strategic grain reserves, especially in the wake of the forecasted super El Niño that is expected to cut harvests.
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Q: What is your assessment of the current grain marketing season, particularly farmers’ response?
A: The 2026 grain marketing season is progressing very well. Deliveries to the GMB have more than doubled compared to the same period last year, which is a very positive development for the agriculture sector and the country’s food security objectives.
We are seeing a strong response from farmers, largely driven by two consecutive good rainfall seasons, which have resulted in improved production. Consistent funding support from Treasury has also been critical because it has enabled GMB to maintain market confidence and operational readiness.
Farmers have clearly responded to the national call to deliver their grain through formal marketing channels.
The volumes coming into our depots and mobile buying points demonstrate that farmers have confidence in the formal grain marketing system.
Q: What are the major trends you are seeing in terms of grain deliveries this season compared with previous marketing seasons?
A: We are seeing a remarkable 122 percent increase in total intake compared to the same period last year. Maize deliveries have firmed up significantly, reflecting the strong summer crop that was produced during the 2025/2026 agricultural season. At the same time, traditional grains have maintained solid momentum.
This is particularly important because Government has been encouraging crop diversification and the production of crops suited to different agro-ecological conditions.
The overall trend points to higher volumes, better quality and broader crop diversity coming into GMB. This is encouraging not only from a marketing perspective, but also from the standpoint of national food security and building adequate strategic reserves.
Q: Are there any particular provinces or districts recording exceptionally high grain delivery levels, and what is driving this performance?
A: Mashonaland West is currently leading in maize deliveries, followed by Mashonaland Central and Midlands.
For traditional grains, Masvingo province has contributed more than 50 percent of the national intake. This is a significant contribution and demonstrates the important role traditional grains continue to play in the country’s food system. The performance is largely being driven by agro-ecological cropping, where farmers grow crops that are suitable for their respective areas.
The proximity of mobile buying points has also made it easier for farmers to bring their produce to the formal market.
Q: What measures has GMB put in place to make it easier for farmers to deliver their grain, particularly those far from major depots?
A: One of our major priorities this season has been to bring GMB services closer to farmers.
We have activated 1 804 mobile buying points across the country to complement our network of 89 fixed depots. This means farmers, particularly those in remote communities, do not necessarily have to travel long distances to access GMB services. Our objective is to make grain marketing more accessible at community level.
We have also deployed a fleet of 40-tonne trucks acquired with Government support to assist with aggregation and movement of grain.
Where necessary, we are partnering with third-party transporters to ensure that farmers are not left behind because of logistical challenges. Our goal is to make grain delivery accessible in every ward and to ensure that transport does not become a barrier to farmers participating in the formal market.
Access to our facilities has significantly improved this season.
The rollout of 1 804 mobile buying points means farmers can deliver their grain within their wards without having to travel long distances to conventional depots.
The availability of GMB trucks has further eased the movement of grain from farms and communities to buying points and onward to our storage facilities. However, we continue to monitor the situation closely. As with any large-scale marketing operation, there can be logistical bottlenecks in certain areas, and our approach is to identify and address these in real time. The important thing is that we remain responsive to the needs of farmers throughout the marketing season.
Q: Are payments for grain deliveries being processed within the agreed time frames?
A: Payments are being processed timeously, at most, within 14 days after delivery.
This is an area we consider very important because timely payment is critical in maintaining farmer confidence in the formal marketing system. To date, a total of ZiG267,3 million and US$29,5 million has been paid to farmers for this summer season, having cleared the previous winter season.
Farmers are receiving 70 percent of their proceeds in United States dollars and 30 percent in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), in line with Government policy. The consistent funding support from Treasury since the beginning of the season has enabled us to maintain this payment schedule.
This has been key to sustaining farmer confidence and encouraging further deliveries into the formal market.
Q: Given the commendable harvest recorded during the 2025/2026 season, does GMB have adequate storage capacity for all the grain?
A: Yes, we have adequate capacity for the current bumper harvest.
GMB has been preparing for increased grain volumes, and our existing infrastructure is being complemented by major investments being undertaken by Government.
We currently have 12 silo depots with a combined capacity of 750 000 tonnes, in addition to 63 depots equipped with sheds and hardstands.
Government is also delivering major additional storage capacity.
Fourteen new AI (artificial intelligence)-driven silos are under construction, with those in Kwekwe and Mutare already commissioned. This has increased our current silo capacity to 862 000 tonnes. Each of the new silos has a capacity of 56 000 tonnes. Once all 14 are completed, they will add 784 000 tonnes of storage capacity, bringing total silo capacity to approximately 1 534 000 tonnes.
This investment is significant because it ensures that increased agricultural production is matched by adequate post-harvest infrastructure. We are also maintaining strict post-harvest management standards, including fumigation and quality control, to safeguard the grain and ensure that the produce remains in good condition while in storage.
Q: How is GMB balancing grain purchases for the national strategic reserve with the need to ensure farmers have a reliable market for their produce?
A: The grain market has been liberalised.
Self-financed farmers are free to sell to buyers of their choice in order to maximise returns, while farmers supported under the Presidential Inputs Programme (PIP) are required to deliver their surplus to GMB.
This arrangement allows farmers who finance their own production to participate in the market freely, while at the same time ensuring that Government-supported production contributes towards national food security.
GMB continues to play its role as the buyer of last resort and as the custodian of the national strategic grain reserve.
Our responsibility is, therefore, twofold: ensuring farmers have a reliable market for their produce while also making sure that the country maintains adequate strategic grain reserves.
Government has set a competitive producer price of US$364,75 per tonne, which makes GMB an attractive and reliable market for farmers.
The strategic reserve is important because it provides a buffer for the country in the event of future production challenges.
At the same time, we want farmers to have confidence that when they produce grain, there is a functioning market and an institution prepared to purchase their produce.
Q: With deliveries increasing significantly this season, what does this mean for Zimbabwe’s food security position?
A: Increased grain deliveries are positive for national food security because they mean more locally produced grain is entering the formal system and can be properly stored and managed.
The strong harvest has given the country an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen its strategic reserves. However, our focus is not only on the quantity of grain coming in, but also on maintaining quality throughout the marketing and storage process. The investments Government is making in storage infrastructure, together with improved logistics and the expansion of mobile buying points, are strengthening the grain marketing system. Our message to farmers is that GMB remains ready to receive their grain.
We will continue working to ensure that the marketing process is accessible, efficient and responsive to farmers’ needs.
Q: Finally, what is your message to farmers who are yet to deliver their grain to GMB?
A: Our message is that farmers should continue delivering their grain through the formal marketing channels.
GMB has put measures in place to make the process easier, including the 1 804 mobile buying points, our fixed depots and additional transport capacity. Farmers should take advantage of the available market and ensure that their grain is properly marketed and preserved.
The strong response we have seen so far demonstrates that farmers have confidence in the system. We will continue working with Government and other stakeholders to ensure that this confidence is maintained throughout the 2026 grain marketing season.
The objective is to support farmers, protect the value of their produce and, at the same time, contribute towards Zimbabwe’s broader food security objectives.
