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Wonder Chabikwa

Business Reporter
FARMERS have described the Grain Marketing Board (GMB)’s failure to pay the $52.4 million it owes them for last year’s grain deliveries as a serious let-down for the agricultural sector.

In January this year Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa pledged to raise about $50 million in collaboration with the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) and CBZ through a lot of AMA bills towards payment of farmers.

The minister is on record admitting the government was struggling to clear the debt due to liquidity constraints but said the issue was being treated as a priority.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Wonder Chabikwa said GMB’s failure to pay farmers on time was disaster.

“Most farmers were last paid in August last year for the grain they delivered at GMB. This means GMB has not paid farmers for at least eight months now, yet farmers were told they’ll get their payments 60 days after delivery,” said Chabikwa in a recent interview.

“GMB is a huge disappointment and it has let down farmers. Most farmers failed to get enough inputs due to lack of funds.”

He said delays in payment of farmers has an effect of destroying the morale to produce more and negatively affects GMB’s reputation as an institution.

Chabikwa said farmers would now be forced to shun GMB and seek alternative buyers.

“As farmers our main role is to ensure food security through delivering our grain to the national grain board. However, its failure to meet debts is very worrisome.

“Farmers will only deliver their maize to the board under the condition that they’re paid on delivery because it has betrayed our trust,” he said.

Farming is the backbone of the country’s economy and if given adequate support it has the potential of creating millions of jobs and boosting growth in other sectors such as manufacturing, beneficiation and value addition.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for crops, Davis Marapira could not be reached for comment.