Zim approves 2020/21 grain producer prices

Harare (New Ziana)- Cabinet, on Tuesday, approved pre-planting producer prices for maize, traditional grains, soya beans and cotton for the 2021 marketing season.

Speaking during the weekly post Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said, “Cabinet considered and approved Pre-Planting Producer Prices for Maize, Traditional Grains, Soya beans and Cotton for the 2021 Agricultural Marketing Season, which were presented by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement. Details on the actual prices will soon be announced by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and COTTCO.

“However, suffice to say that the producer prices ensure farmer viability and incentivise the producers to grow these strategic crops and that they are based on a cost of production plus 15 percent return on investment model.

She added, “In order to promote the production of traditional grains, a 20% premium on the price of maize is given to farmers who grow the crops.”

Turning to preparations for the 2020 summer cropping season, Mutsvangwa said 2.2 million families would be supported under the Pfumvudza conservation agriculture programme.

“ All the 2.2 million families enrolled had been automatically entered in the Pfumvudza competition for all the crops. A total of 2 139 275 households had been trained on Pfumvudza. Additionally, the Zunde raMambo concept had been revived and inputs are now being distributed to 286 chiefs,” said Mutsvangwa.

New Ziana