ZIMBABWE – The cereals and oilseeds commodity trader, Grain Marketing Board (GMB) of Zimbabwe has received 896 273 tonnes of maize and 21 750 tonnes of small grains for the past crop season.
The Herald reports the volume was a result of measures put in place by the parastatal to ensure smooth deliveries of the grain to its depots.
According to GMB general manager Rockie Mutenha, GMB was receiving an average of 77 000 tonnes of maize every week and this was an upward trend compared to 797 916 tonnes of maize and 21 873 tonnes of small grains received during the same period last year.
To ensure farmers deliver their grain within shortest period, GMB put in place measures such as working long hours at some of the busiest depots as well as recruiting additional staff to speed up the uptake of deliveries from farmers as well as farmer payments.
“GMB also took note of recent media reports were farmers were complaining about the delays being experienced at some GMB depots.
“We are happy to say that situation at GMB Chipinge has already been attended to and the reported delay was caused by an operational issue.
The depot had reached its full capacity therefore management had resorted to moving Presidential Inputs to create space for new intake.
The farmers were attended to after the space had been created,” said Mutenha.
The grain buyer said it intends to scale up the opening of collection points and also install 26 additional weigh-bridges at its busy depots.
GMB has ordered 1,600 platform scales to be distributed to various depots and collection point s to speed up maize deliveries.
Since the board accepts grain with 12.5% moisture content, farmers were advised to adhere to prescribed quality standards.
“This is critical to ensure long-term storability and minimal post-harvest losses. Farmers are encouraged to deliver their maize and small grains directly to GMB depots.
“We encourage farmers to continue delivering maize and small grains so that we meet our food security target.
Government is committed to ensuring that all delivered grain will be paid for in the shortest period and at least within 14 working days,” he added.
