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Nyore Madzianike Manicaland Bureau
Government has placed the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) under spotlight to foster sustainable management of the Strategic GrainReserve. This follows the disbursement of $36 million from Treasury to procure grain storage resources.

Speaking at the official launch of the GMB strategy review and planning workshop held in Nyanga last Thursday, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Cde Davis Marapira, said GMB was expected to play a pivotal role in national food security.

“In line with its mandate of ensuring national food security and through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, the GMB is expected to play a pivotal role in national food security,” he said.

Cde Marapira said despite the erratic rainfall received this farming season, he remained optimistic that the country will receive a good ield.

He urged the GMB to properly manage grain stocks to ensure national food security in light of possible food shortages as a result of the erratic rains.

“With that in mind, the GMB will be in spotlight on the need to sustainably manage the Strategic Grain Reserve. I am aware that the GMB has been pursuing strategic targets, chief among them, being the maintenance of the 500 000 metric tonnes physical Strategic Grain Reserve.

“Let me hasten to maintain that such success needs to be reinforced by attending to matters relating to maintenance of the grain storage infrastructure in order to achieve the desired grain quality,” he said.

Cde Marapira challenged GMB to play a pivotal role in educating farmers on post harvest grain handling and content measurement. He said Government expects GMB to develop innovative ideas and funding programmes that achieve national food and nutrition targets.

“In view of the above-mentioned, the Government is pursuing Public Enterprises and Local Authorities Reform in order to achieve efficiency in service delivery and I am aware of the reform proposals that the GMB is pursuing,” he said. The reform proposals are premised on the New Business Model which focuses on value addition.

Cde Marapira urged GMB to explore projects through joint ventures and Public Private Partnerships. He urged employees to shun corruption, embrace the culture of performance and new ways of doing business as expected by the new dispensation.

“To those stuck in yesteryear ways of doing business, your place is not within the new dispensation,” he                                  said.