Govt moves to settle US$22m farmers’ debt
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Government says it is accelerating efforts to clear outstanding payments to farmers who delivered cereals to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), in a move aimed at restoring liquidity in the agricultural sector and enabling producers to scale up operations ahead of the next production cycle.
The arrears largely relate to wheat farmers who delivered their crop in the last quarter of 2025, as well as a smaller number of maize farmers who supplied grain earlier in the year.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Anxious Masuka said authorities have intensified engagements with Treasury to expedite the release of funds.
“The GMB has already started paying farmers for grain deliveries valued at US$22 384 053.16 and weekly payments are being made to clear outstanding payments,” Dr Masuka said.
The settlement of the debt is expected to inject much-needed capital into farming operations at a time when access to affordable financing remains constrained.
Agriculturist and former Zimbabwe National Farmers Union executive Edward Dune urged authorities to hasten the payment process, warning that delays risk undermining production momentum.
“It’s high time the authorities pay farmers so that they can inject the money into their various farming ventures.
Accessing capital is difficult these days so any payment from the outstanding obligations from the GMB will boost a farmer,” Dune said.
The payments come as Cabinet reported that the country’s Strategic Grain Reserve held by the GMB stands at 187 245 metric tonnes, of which 113 751 metric tonnes is wheat, with the balance comprising maize and traditional grains.
Notably, the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), acting as the nation’s food security anchor, has contributed 84.8% of the marketed grain, underscoring the State’s growing role in stabilising supply following successive drought shocks.
Funding for the 2025/2026 summer cropping season currently stands at US$313.933 million and ZWG73 million, part of broader efforts to rebuild national food security after climate-induced production setbacks in previous seasons.
Cabinet also noted that the First Round Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment, led by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), is underway, with final area and production estimates expected once field evaluations are complete.
Preliminary findings indicate generally favourable crop conditions across all provinces.
The Meteorological Services Department has forecast normal to above-normal rainfall, raising prospects for a strong agricultural recovery if weather patterns hold.
Government significantly expanded maize hectarage for the 2025/2026 season, setting aside 1 900 709 hectares across the country’s ten provinces, up from 1 463 465 hectares in the 2024/2025 season — a 30% increase.
ARDA is spearheading a 100 000-hectare large-scale summer cereal production programme designed to buttress national reserves and reduce vulnerability to supply shocks.
Adoption of climate-resilient farming methods is also accelerating. Provinces have registered a combined 15 967 155 Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots this season, compared to 10 817 408 plots last year — representing a 48% increase in conservation agriculture uptake.
Meanwhile, tobacco planting has reached 164 536 hectares, a 15% increase from the 143 025 hectares planted during the same period in 2025. Crop conditions are reported to be good, positioning the country for another potentially strong harvest.
Analysts say settling the US$22 million debt is critical to restoring trust between producers and the State grain buyer, particularly as Government leans on domestic production to anchor food security and reduce import dependence.
