By Derick Tsimba

Government through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has unveiled the new grain producer prices for the 2020/21 grain intake effective, 1 April 2020, the Harare Post can report.

In a press statement today the Grain Marketing Board Chief Executive Officer, Rockie Mutenha said the new producer prices would be paid within seven days of delivery or earlier.

“Grain intake 2020/21 producer price is effective from, 1 April 2020, Maize-ZWL$ 12 329.72 per tonne, Traditional Grains (sorghum, millet and rapoko) ZWL$12 865.79 per tonne and soya beans ZWL$17 211.74 per tonne.

“Payments for all deliveries will be done within seven days of delivery or earlier. The GMB has also introduced a Farmer Card to facilitate easy and prompt payments for the farmers. Farmers are therefore urged to quickly register with their nearest GMB Depot and registration is done when the farmer is delivering their grain,” said Mutenha.

Mutenha also said farmers are urged to deliver their grain directly to GMB and take advantage of the new prices.

“We encourage farmers to deliver their grain directly to GMB and take advantage of the value of the new producer prices. The GMB has also opened collection points at different centres throughout the country to ensure that farmers do not travel long distances to deliver their produce,” he said.

Harare Post has learnt that measures by GMB to open collection points across the country ensure that farmers cut on transport costs as well as reduce congestion at depots in keeping with the World Health Organisation’s recommendation on social distancing to avoid the spreading of Covid-19.