GMB pays wheat farmers US$24 million

Harare March (New Ziana) -THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has paid over US$24 million to wheat farmers and has pledged to pay off the remaining farmers next month.

In a press statement, GMB chief executive officer Rockie Rutenha said farmers delivered a record tonage of wheat with a total value of US$31 132 220.

“The GMB advises the nation that wheat delivered to the parastatal had a total value of ZW$37 031 486 849 and US$31 132 220,” he said.

“GMB has paid US$24 083 085 to wheat farmers and the outstanding balance of US$7 049 135 will be paid in April 2023 as the funds are being released in batches by the Treasury.”

Meanwhile, a total of 85 000 hectares have been targeted for winter wheat this year and this is expected to produce 408 000 tons of the cereal, well above the 375 000 tons of last year and the minimum of 360 000 tons required needed for self-sufficiency.

In its 2023/24 Summer and Winter Crop and Livestock programme, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development said the government was targeting to increase wheat production to meet the national requirement in line with the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy, the Agriculture Recovery Plan and the National Development Strategy 1 and in pursuit of the vision of becoming an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society by 2030.

“The 2023/24 summer and the 2023 winter season programme target is to sustainably increase crop production and productivity to meet and surpass the national requirements for both human consumption and industrial use.

“The Ministry thrust for the 2023/24 season is mainly focusing in achieving food security, oil seed security as well as stock feed security,” read part of the report.

New Ziana