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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) says side marketing activities for grain are a threat to national food security and also frustrate operations of maize contractors.

To curb the practice, millers called for stiffer penalties against culprits.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU)

Addressing Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) 82nd annual congress in Gweru last Thursday, GMAZ chairperson Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said it was unfortunate that some farmers who were benefitting from Government inputs were also implicated in side marketing.

“Farming is a business but the challenge we are facing is side marketing. We would like to denounce the on-going side marketing of maize by the farmers and the unscrupulous buyers,” he said.

“The unfortunate act of greed is now dislocating contract farming financed by the Government, the CBZ Agro Yield among other contractors.

“We are calling for stiffer penalties on those found engaging in side marketing.”

Mr Musarara said the milling industry has stopped importing maize as it no longer makes business sense given the adverse side marketing impact.

“We were importing maize but we have since stopped because the plans we had at the beginning of the year was to have the GMB (Grain Marketing Board) buying all the local maize and we import some to meet the national demand,” he said.

“But because of side marketing we are importing maize at between US$330 and US$340 per ton. But farmers are selling the Government-funded maize for a paltry US$200 or US$300 per ton. We know it will end but it disrupts operations.”

Making reference to stock theft, which attracts mandatory prison sentences of above eight per count, Mr Musarara said a similar deterrent approach must be applied to side marketing of grain.

“The laws and the sentence are not a hindrance to would be side marketers. We want a stiffer penalty to guard against side marketing such as that of stock theft,” he said.

Grain Marketing Board (GMB)

“So, we are saying the cattle farmer and maize farmer are equal hence the law should look at seeing that sentences for side marketing are as stiff as that of stock theft.”

Mr Musarara said the producer prices offered by GMB were also to blame as they incentivise side marketing by farmers.

“GMB prices don’t discourage side marketing. They should be increased so that people take their maize to the board,” said Mr Musarara.