via GMB owes farmers $37 million 6 November 2014 by Sofia Mapuranga
Preparations by farmers for the new season have been severely compromised following failure by the Grain Marketing Board to pay out $37 million those who delivered their crops after August 2014.
Wonder Chabikwa, the President of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union, said less than half of the farmers in the country were prepared for the new season, warning that this would have severe repercussions on food security.
“The farmers’ money is still with the GMB despite the fact that they were supposed to be paid after about 80 days,” said Chabikwa.
The GMB owes farmers $37 million for grain deliveries of 178,948 tonnes last season.
Chabikwa called on government to prioritise paying farmers on time so that the nation can meet its food security targets. He said because the majority of farmers, especially small-scale, depended on rain-fed agriculture, it was important for government to ensure that they had the necessary support in good time.
“Less than half of the farmers have prepared their land for the next season, but this is something that they should have done long back,” he said.
The GMB received an estimated 542 percent more grain from farmers than last year during the same period in 2013, when farmers delivered only 27,890 tonnes. So far it has paid out some $47 million for maize and $4 million for small grains for the 2013- 2014 farming season.
The Meteorological Services Department predicted that between the period October to December, Zimbabwe was expected to have normal to above normal rainfall countrywide.
According to the seasonal forecast, the country should expect more rains in November and December, while normal rainfall with a slight bias towards above normal rains was expected over Region 1 throughout the season.
“For Region 2 and 3, projections are for normal rainfall for the October-December 2014 period,” reads the 2014/2015 seasonal forecast. “However, from late January until the end of the season in March, the rainfall is expected to be below normal, suggesting an early end of the season for these two regions.”
The Met Department recommended that farmers in region 1 should increase their hectarage as mostly normal rainfall was expected. “Farmers in Region 2 and 3 are most likely going to experience a short season, hence planting with the first rains is encouraged, staggering plants and an option for small grains would be encouraged,” it said.
Chabikwa said according to the department’s recommendations, distribution of seeds should have commenced in September but nothing had been availed signalling government’s failure to commit to practices that boosted crop production.
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