Zimpapers Logo

Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has secured $65 million to buy wheat from farmers following the success of Command Wheat Programme, which was recently rolled out.

The move is expected to save the country foreign currency, as Government will no longer import wheat. Speaking during a field day at Mr Jeremiah Maguta’s farm in Middle Sabi last Friday, Grain Millers Association chairperson Mr Tafadzwa Musarara said his association had $65 million in its coffers meant to buy wheat from farmers. Mr Musarara said the money would be channelled to Command Agriculture programme for payments to farmers.

“We have secured a total of $65 million funds towards the purchase of Command Wheat from farmers. We are assuring all wheat farmers that they will not face any delays in payments once they deliver their grain to various Government selling points. We are at an advanced stage of transferring the money to Command Agriculture accounts that will be responsible for the payments of the farmers,” he said.

Mr Musarara said his organisation would continue supporting wheat farmers to ease inflation, as the demand of wheat increases in Zimbabwe.

“The country is now consuming 420 000 tonnes per year while in yesteryears we were only consuming less than 100 000 tonnes annually, so it means if we don’t grow wheat, Government will need around $130 million to import wheat to bake bread. Our stance as millers in Zimbabwe is to ease inflation by continuing to subsidise local wheat farmers, together with the help of Government,” he said.

Mr Musarara said when Command Wheat programme came, they had embraced it with open hands as it would fulfil their dream of maintaining the bread price at the $1 price. This would ease inflation and to maintain this, they needed to make sure that there was a win-win situation to all parties involved.

“We need to see wheat farmers continue getting supported as the value chain of wheat production is very important. Our association has also reached the advanced stages of securing funds from MetBank that will be used for hiring combine harvesters, which will be used in harvesting of wheat,” said Mr Musarara.

During the event, Mr Musarara donated a moisture content gauge worth $2 500 to Middle Sabi farmers. Middle Sabi Farmers Association chairperson Mr Skumbuzo Thondhlana hailed GMAZ for securing funds both for hiring combines and payment of farmers. He said their relationship with the GMAZ would go a long way in helping revive wheat production in the coming seasons.