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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) on Wednesday commended Guruve farmers for supplying 13 000 tonnes of maize to its depots during the last agricultural season, a figure last reached 18 years ago.

Speaking at an Open Day at their Guruve Depot, GMB northern region manager Mr Felton Kamambo said the maize was produced by 3 600 farmers in Guruve. Guruve is the second-best maize producing district in the province after Mazowe.

Following the successful implementation of the Command Agriculture last year, GMB has decided to interact with their stakeholders, chief among them farmers, to hear their concerns and how the parastatal can improve its services.

“We congratulate you for working hard. As we approach this marketing season, the purpose of the Open Day is to exchange information with our stakeholders on what is happening and the programmes that we have so that farmers are not short changed by unscrupulous buyers,” said Mr Kamambo.

“We are now reviving the GMB liaison committees so that farmers receive information directly from us. So far, we have managed to pay a million dollars to farmers who supplied their maize to GMB and we only remain with $40 000 for 39 farmers.

“The outstanding balance was caused by challenges in transferring money to farmers due to various issues, including closed bank accounts and wrong banking details. The money is available and we urge affected farmers to bring their proper details so that we clear the balance by the end of March.

“People had a bad perception of GMB due to issues which include corruption and poor service delivery. All this belongs to the past and we want people to have a different perspective.”

Guruve North legislator Retired Brigadier-General Cde Walter Kanhanga urged GMB to deal with unscrupulous buyers who are benefiting at the expense of farmers.

“Last season, we had corruption issues involving GMB workers who were liaising with unscrupulous buyers. Farmers had their maize denied on moisture basis, but when the same maize was bought by these unscrupulous buyers, it was being accepted,” said Cde Kanhanga.