The Grain Marketing Board is currently paying $295 while private buyers are buying at $300.
In an interview, ZCFU Chief Economist, Peter Gambara, said this year’s national grain production was compromised, hence demand was higher than supply.
“The government pays farmers well, so the grain reserve is not affected. Farmers are looking at a price of $400 per tonne to recoup production costs because generally that is the landing price for imported maize,” he said.
He added that the GMB continued to blame the Treasury for allocating them inadequate funds, saying that had had failed to assist the country’s grain reserve.
A recent statement by GMB Corporate Communications Manager, Muriel Zemura, said they only received a total of 81,190 tonnes of maize from farmers during the 2012/13 marketing season while the previous season’s intake was 205, 657 tonnes.
Farmers are reportedly shunning the national grain utility because it has been defaulting on payments.
The crop assessment report indicated that nearly a million tonnes of maize were expected during the 2012/13 season and out of this less than 100, 000 tonnes went to the GMB depots.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe and Zambia last week finalized a deal for Zimbabwe to import 150 000 tonnes of maize. Currently the country is facing a one million tonne maize deficit.
Post published in: News