Govt pays US$19m for grain deliveries
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
Government has paid more than US$19m to farmers for grain deliveries made during the 2025/26 marketing season as authorities move to bolster the Strategic Grain Reserve following a bumper harvest.
The accelerated payments come after the Treasury cleared all outstanding obligations from the previous season, a move aimed at encouraging farmers to continue delivering grain to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and strengthening the country’s food security buffer.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said Zimbabwe’s food security outlook remains positive, underpinned by strong grain deliveries and improved agricultural output.
“Payments in excess of US$19m have been made for the 2025/26 season deliveries. The Grain Marketing Board has settled 100% of its previously outstanding farmer payment obligations from the 2024/25 season,” Soda said.
As of July 30, 2026, farmers had delivered 422,821 metric tonnes of crops, including maize, soyabeans, sorghum and sunflower to the GMB, up from 251,648 metric tonnes recorded during the same period last year.
The minister said grain deliveries this season are 135% higher than in the corresponding period in 2025, with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) accounting for 91.22% of the total deliveries.
Government grain stocks held by the GMB stood at 239,824.874 metric tonnes as of July 28, 2026.
Soda also said the GMB is holding 67,783.457 metric tonnes of third-party grain following the completion of artificial intelligence-powered silos and the rollout of commercial storage services through the Warehouse Receipt System.
The country’s improved harvest has been driven by increased planting and higher yields.
The total maize area planted rose to 1.96 million hectares this year from 1.81 million hectares in 2025, while maize production increased 17.1% to 2.69 million metric tonnes from 2.20m metric tonnes.
Soyabean production more than doubled, climbing 125% to 119,067 metric tonnes from 52,794 metric tonnes last year.
Government also announced producer prices for the 2026 cotton marketing season, with Grade A cotton pegged at US$0.43/kg, Grade B at US$0.41/kg, Grade C at US$0.38/kg, and Grade D at US$0.35/kg.
“Payment is made instantly upon delivery, subject to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe regulations on foreign and local currency ratios,” Soda said.
On the winter cropping programme, Government said wheat plantings increased to 133,048 hectares, up from 121,281 hectares last year. ARDA planted 65,585 hectares, surpassing its target of 65,000 hectares.
