Chinotimba accuses government of turning down maize from farmers

Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba has accused the government of resorting to turning back maize supplies from the local farmers when it is clear that the there is a need for the Grain Marketing Board to stock enough grain for the nation.

Speaking in parliament Chinotimba directing the question to deputy Minister of agriculture Paddy Zhanda he said private buyers of maize have driers so that their silos will have maize.

"It is said that there should be a certain moisture content in the maize delivered to GMB.  Why are you turning back farmers when the country badly needs the maize?  How can a person be able to dry this maize?  Why do you not have driers so that you can dry the maize as is the case with private operators so that your silos will be full?" he asked.

Zhanda said this year Government has reduced the moisture content from 12.5% to 13.5% so that farmers are able to deliver a lot of dry maize to GMB.

"If GMB collects maize with a higher moisture content when we do not have driers, the maize will rot.  It is not the duty of GMB to construct driers so that it can assist people.  The duty of GMB is to ensure that they buy maize which meets the necessary moisture content and preserve it so that it will not rot," he said.

"We leave it to others who are in the drying business to dry the maize in question."