Online Reporter
Agriculture News Editor
The Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX) is targeting to expand its commodity trading platform and warehouse receipt system to reach more smallholder farmers across the country.
This institution is also expanding its platform to include livestock and carbon-linked commodities, enhancing digital market participation and promoting production inclusion in agriculture.
This move will see the institution providing farmers with secure storage options, transparent pricing and access to commodity-based financing without the need for traditional collateral.
The ZMX provides a central warehouse receipt system and spot market trading platform for agricultural commodities.
Presenting the 2026 National Budget Statement in Parliament, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said the ZMX platform was steadily taking centre stage in the domestic marketing of agricultural commodities.
“Going forward, ZMX plans to enhance the effectiveness of its commodity trading platform and its warehouse receipt system by expanding its accessibility across the country to ensure that small holder farmers can access, secure storage for transparent pricing and commodity-based financing, without traditional collateral,” he said.
“Government`s role through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) in agriculture markets will remain limited to purchase and management of strategic grain reserve and providing storage facilities for ZMX.”
Prof Ncube said the 2026 National Budget was targeting the procurement of the Strategic Grain Reserve of about 500 000 tonnes to increase the stock levels to over 1,5 million tonnes over the medium term.
“Government will also continue to promote cooperative and contract farming models as they strengthen market linkages, improve input access and ensure predictable incomes for smallholder farmers,” he said.
