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Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Treasury has released $17,8 million to the Grain Marketing Board to pay farmers for maize delivered during the 2015/16 farming season and to clear payments for wheat delivered between 2007 and 2009. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister, Dr Joseph Made, yesterday said $13,715 million was for payments of the maize delivered by farmers to the GMB depots during the 2015/16 marketing season while the $4,1 million was for the wheat delivered between 2007 and 2009.

“The money has been released to GMB to effect the payments to maize and wheat farmers this week. There was an outstanding amount for wheat farmers who had delivered their grain between 2007 and 2009 and had not been paid. The release of the money now settles the outstanding balance.

“The payment will go a long way in assisting farmers to proceed with their agricultural activities. I appreciate the confidence of farmers who delivered their wheat and maize to the GMB during the 2015/16 marketing season. I urge the GMB to act with speed and pay farmers so they can proceed with their activities,” he said.

Government delays in paying farmers for deliveries to the GMB have in the past constrained individual farmers’ capacity to finance their future cropping programmes.

Farmers have on several occasions called on Government to recapitalise GMB so that it is able to pay farmers timely.

Presenting the 2015/16 national budget recently, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, said Government had continued to prioritise payment for grain deliveries to the GMB as a away of capacitating farmers.

“Government will strive to ensure that no arrears will be incurred going forward,” said Minister Chinamasa.