GMB 'fails' to pay farmers

Umguza farmers who had their farm produce taken by the Grain Marrketing Board which is failing to pay them have said that have seriously affected their farming activities this year as they had no money to buy inputs.

The GMB reportedly collected farmers maize produce last year in August and to day farmers have not yet been paid.

The angry farmers said this year they were struggling to farm due to shortage of inputs caused by the Gmb which has not yet paid them to enable them to buy the inputs using the money obtained from the previous year produce.

The called for the government to intervane a ensure that the parastatal pays farmers in time. Survey done established that it is not only the seasonal farmers affected as the irrigation farmers claimed to be the most affected since they have water to plant their crops throughout but the inputs shortage scuttled their effort a they were not paid for their previous produce.

Matabeleland North and South are this year seriiusly affected by drought and people i the provinces will need serious food aid this year.