Govt sets new grain producer prices

Zim Now Writer

Government has announced new producer prices for strategic crops such as maize, traditional grains, soyabean, and sunflower.

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister Anxious Masuka made the announcement in Harare on Friday.

The Grain Marketing Board will pay a producer price of US$335 per metric tonne for maize and traditional grains, while soyabeans and sunflower will fetch US$580 and US$696, per tonne, respectively.

The GMB will pay part of the money in foreign currency and the remainder in Zimbabwe dollars at the prevailing interbank rate.

Government has also set a pre-planting producer price of US$520 per metric tonne of wheat.

“A floor producer price of US$335 per metric tonne of maize and traditional grains is paid to farmers by GMB as US$200 in foreign currency plus US$135 in local currency.

“US$580 per metric tonne for soya beans paid as US$348 in foreign currency and US$232 in local at the interbank rate.”

Government has also liberalised the marketing of grain with all contractors allowed to buy back contracted crops while self-financed farmers will be free o sell to the GMB or the open market.