GMB confiscates 392 tonnes of grain

LETTICIA MAGOMBO

 

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has seized 392 tonnes of grain from farmers involved in side marketing across the country.

Some farmers have been opting to sell their grain to private buyers instead of the GMB which is paying ZWL$75 000 plus US$90 per tonne.

GMB is empowered by Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 to confiscate grain from those farmers resisting to sell to the parastatal.

“Government calls upon farmers to desist from side-marketing their grain. So far 392 metric tonnes have been confiscated by the GMB for side marketing in terms of Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019,” Information, Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists at a post Cabinet briefing on Tuesday.

She said as of July 7, 2022, GMB had 454 277 metric tonnes of maize and traditional grains in stock, including stocks carried over from the previous season.

However, the government continues to be optimistic about a greater influx of grain deliveries later in the season.

“Due to the late onset of rains experienced in the 2021/2022 summer production season, the main grain intake season began in June 2022 and is likely to peak around July to September.”

A total of 28 430 metric tonnes of grain has been received during the current grain marketing season.

This is a far cry from the almost 600 000 metric tonnes that had been delivered to the GMB during the same period last year.

Mutsvangwa said the importation of mealie meal is expected to continue in order to ensure that “consumers are cushioned from any market distortions which may occur”.

A total of ZW$500m and US$2m has been paid to farmers for grain delivered to the GMB thus far.

 

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button