Maize sales rocket 106pc as farmers deliver 313 000 tonnes 

Source: Maize sales rocket 106pc as farmers deliver 313 000 tonnes – herald

Edgar Vhera

Specialist Writer – Agribusiness

CUMULATIVE maize sales by farmers between April 1 and July 24 have risen by 106 percent to 313 000 tonnes, compared to 152 000 tonnes in the same period last year.

This comes on the backdrop of growers warming up to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) as their preferred market choice, a combined result of high prices and prompt payment.

The Agricultural Marketing Authority’s (AMA) latest weekly market report reveals that farmers had delivered 312 717 tonnes of maize to all maize buyers and agro-processors against last year’s delivery of 152 047 tonnes.

GMB intake rose 219 percent from 23 631 to 75 380 tonnes, while the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange’s (ZMX) procurement increased 224 percent from 7 307 to 23 660 tonnes.

Other buyers bought 213 677 tonnes of maize, a 76 percent jump from 121 109 tonnes.

Soyabean deliveries have also surged 58 percent to 45 744 tonnes from 28 924.

Sorghum intake rose 15 percent to 31 951 tonnes from 27 804 tonnes while sunflower deliveries fell eight percent to 5 181 from 5 631 tonnes.

In a recent media release, GMB chief executive, Dr Edison Badarai, said his organisation was the favourable buyer on the market and paying farmers high prices on time.

Maize and traditional grains are being bought at US$364, 75 per tonne.

“GMB prices are above the market as they reinforce confidence and guarantee farmers to mobilise input resources for the next cropping season, underscoring Government’s steadfast commitment to agriculture.

“Farmers are encouraged to make use of the 89 depots, the proximity of 1 804 ward-based buying points and transport logistics offered to deliver grain as GMB makes timely payments,” he said.

The board paid US$20 million and ZiG230 million for grain delivered since the marketing season opened on April 1, while settling outstanding obligations amounting to US$5,2 million and ZiG62 million.

This brought total payments to US$25,2 million and ZiG292 million.

“We have cleared everything. We encourage our farmers to continue delivering to GMB with the best price and we are paying within five days,” said Dr Badarai.

Some farmers in the Zimbabwe Agricultural Think Tank (ZATT) concur that GMB was paying them on time on the foreign currency component.

A farmer who requested anonymity said he had received the foreign currency portion on time and was still awaiting the ZiG component.

“I received a bulky payment in my Nostro account for sorghum and maize I delivered this year and that was on time, unlike in the past. I am still waiting for the ZiG portion and confidence among farmers is slowly building up,” he said.

Government crafted Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025 (CAP. 18:24) Agricultural Marketing Authority (Grain, Oilseed and Products) (Amendment) Regulations (No.2), to govern the importation of grains and oilseed products, as well as encourage local production.

To operationalise SI 87 of 2025, Government approved a new grain procurement and import verification framework designed to create a transparent, accountable system that prioritises local farmers while ensuring agro-processors continue to access grain supplies in an orderly and efficient manner, with effect from June 1.

Under the approved framework, grain buyers and agro-processors are required to procure a minimum of 40 percent of their grain requirements from the local market to qualify for imports of up to 60 percent of their requirements.

AMA will provide overall regulatory and supervisory oversight, while the ZMX will provide the online trading, reporting and verification platform responsible for monitoring procurement and import compliance.

GMB will provide the backbone storage infrastructure supporting the framework alongside approved private warehouse operators across the country.