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Govt says this year's maize harvest is very law
20 May 2016 at 06:52hrs | Views
Government of Zimbabwe has indicated that the 2016 harvesting period has started and farmers were working out with their produce which is not at the expected or satisfying levels.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Joseph Made said confirmed that indeed maize harvesting has started across the country.
"However, I want to indicate that the harvest is not to the levels that we can consider stopping the maize measures in terms of imports that have been put in place. The estimated imports still stand at the same levels as announced. So, all the activities relating to maize coming into the country are continuing. That is one major point," he said.
"The other one is on maize that is being delivered to the Grain Marketing Board. I am happy to indicate that currently the levels of deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board are substantial to the point that we are also able to use what is being harvested to mitigate drought in certain parts of the country."
He said to date already, the Grain Marketing Board has taken delivery of 16 000 metric tonnes in the current season.
"I have also directed the Grain Marketing Board to take the maize at 13.5% moisture content where we normally take the grain at 12.5% moisture content. The prices obviously will be adjusted according to the moisture content levels. We have done this in order to facilitate the early deliveries of maize to the Grain Marketing Board. In terms of payment for the maize delivered, I am happy to also indicate to the House that the farmers are being paid as they deliver their grain to the Grain Marketing Board," Made said.
The minister said to this effect, already Treasury has released US$3.5 million plus US$1 million, making a total of current releases to the Grain Marketing Board to US$4.5 million.
"The farmers are being paid as directed. This is also to enable the farmers who are harvesting maize to be able to start the winter preparation. Specifically on the winter preparations, we are going to support the farmers through this method of grain deliveries and paying those farmers to the extent that we anticipate that 25 000 hectares will be planted to wheat," he said.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Joseph Made said confirmed that indeed maize harvesting has started across the country.
"However, I want to indicate that the harvest is not to the levels that we can consider stopping the maize measures in terms of imports that have been put in place. The estimated imports still stand at the same levels as announced. So, all the activities relating to maize coming into the country are continuing. That is one major point," he said.
"The other one is on maize that is being delivered to the Grain Marketing Board. I am happy to indicate that currently the levels of deliveries to the Grain Marketing Board are substantial to the point that we are also able to use what is being harvested to mitigate drought in certain parts of the country."
"I have also directed the Grain Marketing Board to take the maize at 13.5% moisture content where we normally take the grain at 12.5% moisture content. The prices obviously will be adjusted according to the moisture content levels. We have done this in order to facilitate the early deliveries of maize to the Grain Marketing Board. In terms of payment for the maize delivered, I am happy to also indicate to the House that the farmers are being paid as they deliver their grain to the Grain Marketing Board," Made said.
The minister said to this effect, already Treasury has released US$3.5 million plus US$1 million, making a total of current releases to the Grain Marketing Board to US$4.5 million.
"The farmers are being paid as directed. This is also to enable the farmers who are harvesting maize to be able to start the winter preparation. Specifically on the winter preparations, we are going to support the farmers through this method of grain deliveries and paying those farmers to the extent that we anticipate that 25 000 hectares will be planted to wheat," he said.
Source - Byo24News
