Grain Marketing Board Pays $25 Billion To Farmers
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) says it has so far paid $25 billion to farmers for deliveries during the 2021 marketing season.
The parastatal, however, still owes farmers $1.79 billion for the grain already delivered to its depots.
GMB has received over 733 000 tonnes of grain from farmers valued at $26.9 billion as deliveries continue.
GMB chief executive Rockie Mutenha yesterday implored farmers to deliver their crops as payments were on course.
This comes after some farmers have complained over delays in payments, a development that has hindered preparations for the coming summer cropping season.
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Mutenha said some delays could have been caused by some banks, but the majority of farmers received their money soon after the Heroes holiday. He said:
We have received 733 532 tonnes of maize from farmers compared to 116 671 tonnes during the same period last year.
Farmers have also delivered 75 689 tonnes of traditional grains up from the 3 677 tonnes sold to the GMB during the corresponding period last year.
So far we have paid $25,1 billion to farmers and we still owe $1,79 billion. We paid farmers soon after the holiday and I am sure by now most farmers have received their money.
The GMB gets money from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development every week for grain purchases.
Treasury allocated $60 billion to the GMB to buy the maize and traditional grains from farmers.
The parastatal is paying $32 000 per tonne for maize and $38 000 per tonne of traditional grains.
GMB is expecting up to 1.8 million tonnes of grains from farmers.
