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George Chisoko Harare Bureau
TREASURY has released $11 million to the Grain Marketing Board to pay farmers for the grain delivered to depots across the country so that they step up preparations for the farming season.

This follows an instruction that Cabinet gave on Tuesday for the release of the money. The money, brings the total amount released in less than two months to $40 million after Treasury disbursed $15 million four weeks ago and another $14 million a week ago.

Farmers preparations were being inhibited by the lack of money for tillage and to buy crop inputs. Seed houses this week said they have enough seed to meet the requirements of farmers but were worried by the slow seed uptake as farmers cited lack of money as the reason.

In an interview last night, the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Joseph Made, said his ministry was grateful to government for the timely intervention, coming at a time farmers were busy preparing for the main season.

“On behalf of the farmers, I must say we are very grateful to the government bearing in mind that the $11 million will go a long way paying for the 2015/16 deliveries that have been made. We’re making sure that payment for the 2014/15 deliveries will be made soon as we respond to the confidence that our farmers have in us.

“Our farmers have always had confidence in the government and the government, through Treasury has not disappointed them by ensuring they are paid for the grain. As further resources are mobilised, obviously more money will be released,’’ said Made.

The minister urged wheat farmers, especially those still holding onto the crop because they doubt government’s ability and commitment to pay, to cast aside the doubts as the latest disbursements were a clear sign that they would be paid for the deliveries.

“I want to encourage all wheat farmers holding onto their crop, those harvesting and those not contracted to please deliver to the GMB. We want the wheat as government.’’

Made also lamented the veld fires and warned wheat farmers to quickly harvest their crop as they risked losing it to the fires.

Recently banks announced a $1 billion facility for farmers for the 2015/16 agricultural season, which should allow many farmers to go back to the fields.