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Business Reporter
A TOTAL of 1,293 million metric tonnes of grain have so far been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), a huge jump from last year’s comparative deliveries of 327 446 metric tonnes.

The deliveries comprise maize, soya beans, wheat and traditional grains.

Cumulatively, 227 000 metric tonnes of wheat have been delivered to date, according to a Cabinet report presented by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, on Tuesday.

The country has achieved a bumper harvest this year, which has seen the sector attain the five-year US$8,2 billion agriculture economy target in one season.

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, presented the update on the GMB deliveries and progress on the summer cropping season preparations, which was adopted by Cabinet.

“Regarding the ongoing marketing of grain, a total of 1,293 million metric tonnes of grain comprising maize, soya beans, wheat and traditional grains have so far been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), which is a phenomenal increase from last year’s comparative deliveries of 327 446 metric tonnes,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“Cumulatively, 227 000 metric tonnes of wheat have been delivered to date.”

Prospects are high the agriculture sector would also post a good yield next year based on meteorological projections of a normal to above normal rainfall season.

On preparations for the 2021/2022 summer grains production season, Minister Mutsvangwa said work was on-going to attain the two million hectares of maize, 70 000 hectares of soyabean and 655 000 hectares of traditional grains.

She said subscription for the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Pfumvudza/Intwasa Supply Scheme has been overwhelming, with 2,484 million households already rolling out the programme, compared to the 1,5 million, which were rolled out at the same time last year.

Following submissions from Dr Masuka, Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet took the strategic decision to include sunflower and cotton as part of the country’s oil seeds basket, in order to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

“Resultantly, the targeted hectarage for sunflower and cotton has been reviewed upwards,” she said.

“Inputs distribution for the Climate-Proofed Presidential Pfumvudza/Intwasa inputs Supply Scheme is in full swing across the country.

“The inputs distribution under the National Enhanced Agriculture Productivity Scheme is being accelerated.”

Meanwhile, a total of 114 721 tobacco growers have registered for the 2021/2022 season, compared to 124 943 growers who had registered during the same period last season.

To date, the minister said total area planted was 31 percent above that planted last season with 345 new growers.