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Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
MORE than 790 000 tonnes of maize have been delivered to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) so far with more deliveries expected.

Since the beginning of the marketing season on April 1, over 1 400 collection points have been established across the country. The Government targets to set up 1 800 collection points this season.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing Wednesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said: “It is highlighted that  792  325 tonnes of maize, 11 769 tonnes of soya bean and 81 755 tonnes of traditional grains had been delivered to the GMB as at 24 August 2021”.

She said Mashonaland West had the highest maize and soya bean intake, while Mashonaland Central was highest in relation to traditional grains.

According to the Second Round of Crop and Livestock Assessment Report for 2020-2021 season, maize production is estimated at 2,7 million tonnes, which is 199 percent of the 907  628 tonnes produced in the 2019-2020 season.

Traditional grains production for the 2020/2021 season is estimated at 347 968 tonnes, which is 128 percent more compared to 152 515 tonnes in 2019-2020.

Sorghum production is expected to be 244  063 tonnes, which is 135 percent more than 103 684 tonnes obtained during 2019-2020 season. Finger millet production is expected to be at 13 223 tonnes, which is 35 percent more than 9 799 tonnes produced in the 2018-2019.

All the 87 GMB depots in the country have begun operating daily, including on weekends, to facilitate uninterrupted grain deliveries.

The grain utility is paying $32 000 per tonne of maize, $48 000 for a tonne of soya bean and $38 000 for traditional grains.

The Government has set aside $60 billion to ensure timely payment of farmers with the GMB undertaking to effect payments to farmers within 72 hours of delivery. Producers who deliver their grain to mobile collection points will be paid within five days.

On winter wheat, Minister Mutsvangwa said the early planted crop was now at booting stage in most provinces.

“Bird repellent has been procured to ensure efficient control of the quelea birds that have been sighted in all provinces,” she said.

“Government has begun a nation-wide identification of roosting places of quelea birds.

“Farmers should assist by providing surveillance information on the roosting places, and additionally can collect bird repellent from their nearest GMB depots to protect their crops.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has been engaged to ensure efficient control of the birds. In order to eliminate side marketing, she said wheat contractors were putting in place harvesting and transport logistics.

Presently, Zimbabwe’s wheat stocks stand at 81 419 tonnes, enough for the country into the next harvest that is expected to commence in next month.

On tobacco marketing, Minister Mutsvangwa said cumulative sales increased to 206,6 kilogrammes compared to the 184 million kilogrammes that was sold during the similar period last year.

“The 81 963 405 kg valued at US$318 million and exported so far compares favourably to the 86,9 million kg valued at US$283 million exported during a similar period in 2020, reflecting the impact of better prices.

“As part of the strategy to localise the funding of tobacco, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board will contract 50 000 hectares valued at US$60 million, compared to the 12  000 hectares contracted the previous season,” she said.
On seed cotton intake, Minister Mutsvangwa said a total of 98 598 tonnes valued at $5,2 billion has been received at the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) depots countrywide.

“The cotton is 66 percent of the targeted intake, and has surpassed the 2020 deliveries by 20 percent. Cottco has paid $1,8 billion and US$1,7 million to farmers, while Treasury has paid $620 million of the $850 million that was owed to cotton farmers from the 2020 marketing season,” she said.

This year’s cotton marketing season started on May 19 amid high expectations from farmers of early payments for the crop upon delivery at the 772 buying points countrywide. Of these, 359 are permanent cotton buying points while 413 are mobile buying points. – @okazunga