By Marshia Mutambi

MARONDERA– As the harvesting season approaches, the Grain Marketing Board of Zimbabwe (GMB) is urging farmers in the province to sell their grain to the organisation to ensure a smooth and profitable experience, a call that aims at safeguarding food security at local and national level.

In an interview with Chaminuka, the supply chain manager at the depot in Marondera, Rabson Nyan’ara, reiterated on the importance of selling grain to the GMB and provided valuable guidance on the delivery process.

Nyan’ara encouraged farmers to sell their produce to the organization to have traceable references.

This, he explained, is crucial for ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation for their grain and that the GMB can maintain accurate records of all transactions.

“We want to assure farmers in Marondera that selling their grain to the GMB is the best option. By so doing, they will have a clear and transparent record of their sales, which will help them to plan for future harvests and make informed decisions about their farming operations

He stated: “We encourage farmers to deliver their grain as soon as they complete harvesting. This will help to prevent losses due to moisture content, pests, or other factors that can affect the quality of the grain.”

Before delivering grain, farmers are required to bring a sample to the GMB for moisture content testing, a critical step in ensuring that the grain meets the GMB’s quality standards.

“Moisture content testing is essential to determine the quality of the grain. If the moisture content is too high, it affects the quality of the grain and leads to losses during storage. This practice helps us to ensure that grain delivered to our depots meets our quality standards,” Nyan’ara said.

He urged farmers in Marondera who are ready to harvest and sell their grain to get in touch with the GMB through their various channels or visit the local depot in Marondera.

“We are committed to providing excellent service to our farmers in Marondera. As a Government parastatal, we want to assure our farmers that we are here to support them every step of the way, from harvesting to delivery. We encourage them to contact us early to arrange for delivery and to take advantage of our moisture content testing services,” he said.

He also stated that by selling their grain to GMB farmers can benefit from the organisation’s expertise, resources, and commitment to quality.