ZFU calls for competitive maize prices

Published: 17 January 2014

ZIMBABWE Farmers' Union (ZFU) has called on the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to come up with competitive maize producer prices to promote local farmers.

In an interview yesterday, ZFU vice-president Berean Mukwende said it was important for the GMB to come up with a competitive maize price to support farmers and ensure an increase in productivity.

"We want GMB to peg the price at least $400 per tonne so that farmers are able to make profits because production costs are very high and that is why we want an increase in maize prices so that farmers are able to go back to the field and produce more," he said.

Mukwende said GMB should work on ways of paying farmers on time so that they do not end up selling their maize to private buyers who buy the maize at very low prices.

"Our GMB should start preparing now so that when farmers take their maize they are paid upon delivery because right now there are some farmers who have not received their money for last season's deliveries. They should support local farmers so that imports are reduced," said Mukwende.

The price of maize is pegged at $378 a tonne. He said the GMB should prioritise supporting local farmers so that the country restores its status of being the regional bread basket.

Mukwende said they were expecting an increase in maize production in the 2013/2014 season if the rains continued up to February.

"According to the inputs and the hectare we are expecting above 1,2 million metric tonnes if the rains continue. However, we are not sure how long the rains will remain consistent," he said.

The country requires 2, 2 million tonnes of maize to cater for both human and livestock consumption. During the 2012/2013 farming season only 800,000 tonnes of maize were produced. Late last year the government announced that the maize producer price for the 2013/2014 marketing season had been increased by 28 percent to $378,86 maize per tonne to encourage farmers to continue producing the crop.

The price was previously pegged at $295 per tonne.
- chronicle