The Sunday News
Ngonidzashe Chiutsi Farming Correspondent
THE Grain Marketing Board still owes farmers more than $50 million for grain delivered last year, almost a month after the expiry of the Government deadline which mandated the parastatal to pay the arrears. Towards the end of the last year, the Government announced that GMB was supposed to clear all arrears to farmers by 31 December.
However, farmers said they are still owed more than $50 million and expressed anger at the parastatal adding it must stop collecting produce from farmers if there is no money to pay.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) second vicepresident Mr Berean Mukwende said the delay in payments affected farmers in procuring inputs.
He said farmers were enticed to sell to GMB since the parastatal was offering the highest prices.
“GMB enticed farmers to sell to them but unfortunately they can’t pay for it and this is affecting the famers. Right now the farming season is in full swing and farmers need money to buy inputs such as fertilisers but they can’t because they have not been paid,” he said.
“We are saying in future GMB must buy our produce on cash basis and once the money runs out they must stop.”
Some farmers in Matabeleland region accused GMB of sabotaging farming.
Mr Enoch Moyo from Umguza said he was likely to shun selling this year’s harvest to GMB.
“I delivered about 10 tonnes of wheat five months ago to GMB but I am yet to receive the payment,” said Mr Moyo.
Another farmer from the prime agriculture area, Ms Priscar Moyo said farmers were losing trust in GMB.
“I have lost trust in GMB and this season I am considering selling my produce to private players even if they offer lower prices because what is happening now is affecting my farming business,” said Ms Moyo who also said she has not received payment from the parastatal.
Another farmer, Mr Mailos Sibindi from Umguza said he was now failing to service his debts because he has not been paid.
“We need to service our debts. We owe money to banks and workers,” he said.
The farmers said they were having problems with both the Zimbabwe National Water Authority and Zesa over failure to service their debts since they do not have the money.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) said farmers were now owing the power company $73 million accrued in just a year after the Government slashed their debt.
Contacted for comment, GMB corporate communications manager Ms Muriel Zemura said she no longer comments on the issue and referred all queries to the Government.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development responsible for Cropping Cde Davis Marapira said he was not aware of when the farmers will be paid their outstanding money as he has been out of office for the past two weeks.
“I will only know when I get back to office,” he said.
