Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods Officer (Harare)

Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods Assistants (Harare)

Driver (Harare)

Data Capturer (Harare)

Support Engineer (Harare)

Accounts Clerk (Harare)

Human Resources Administrator

Human Resources Business Partner - CBZ Bank (Harare)

Managed Care Officer (Bulawayo)

Drivers (Harare)

Security Guards (Harare)

Graduate Trainee: Monitoring and Evaluation (Harare)

Graduate Trainee: Public Affairs, Media and Marketing (Harare)

Graduate Trainee:  Agriculture (Harare)

Embroidery Machine Operator (Harare)

Insurance Consultant

Procurement Officer (Harare)

Electronics Technician (Harare)

Transport Manager (Bulawayo)

Trainee Sales Executive (Harare)

Technical Director (Harare)

Financial Management and Operations Director (Harare)

Data Analyst (Harare)

Field Security Associate (Harare)

Concrete Plant Technician

Technician/Senior Technician

Laboratory Assistant

Project Officer

Drivers x4

Grants and Compliance Manager (Harare)

Accountants x2 (Harare)

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has failed to pay farmers the outstanding ZWL$54 billion several months after they sold grain to the parastatal.
With the 2023/24 summer cropping season just around the corner, GMB’s failure to pay farmers has likely hampered preparations for the new season.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) executive director Paul Zakariya said the issue of delayed payments has negatively impacted farmers’ cash flow. <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/anxiety-as-gmb-fails-to-pay-farmers/">Business Times</a> quoted Zakariya as saying:
<blockquote>
We are at a stage where farmers would require to ensure that cash flows continue to be positive on the farms and that they meet other expenses like labour costs and repairs to machinery and equipment as well as ensuring that the farms are ticking so these delayed payments have actually become quite a bother on many operations.
</blockquote>
Last week, GMB finance director Clemence Guta told Parliament that of the outstanding payments, ZWL$ 21 billion was for maize deliveries. Said Guta:
<blockquote>
We have an outstanding balance of ZWL$54bn of which ZWL$21bn relates to maize deliveries and we got US$ 25mn which is outstanding as well about US$ 8.7mn relates to traditional grains with the balance being for wheat deliveries…
We are continuously pursuing the Treasury so that they release funds so that our farmers are able to go back to the fields.
</blockquote>
He also said the GMB has started inputs for the Presidential input scheme but was lagging behind in terms of payments to transporters.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

GMB Fails To Pay Farmers

The Government is reportedly withholding payments for farmers who delivered their grain to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) for fear that the payments might cause the Zimbabwe dollar to fall sharply.
However, the decision may negatively affect farmers’ preparations for the upcoming 2023–2024 summer cropping season.
<a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/government-struggles-to-pay-farmers-creating-a-worrying-backlog/">Business Times</a> reported multiple GMB officials as saying the parastatal has a month-long payment backlog.
A GMB senior official who requested anonymity was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
We last paid the farmers who delivered their grain on July 8, since then we haven’t been able to pay farmers due to the little amounts we are receiving from the Treasury.
We don’t know what the farmers will do but we will pay according to the disbursements from the government.
</blockquote>
Local contractors also expressed concern about the delay in payments.
Economist Gift Mugano told Business Times that the current stability is unsustainable. He said:
<blockquote>
This is a massaged stability as you can’t starve the children and claim to be saving a great deal of money.
The government should pay farmers and contractors in batches so that they can use it as working capital for their businesses.
The authorities should allow supply and demand law to take centre stage here, not suppress supply to create demand.
It’s a tragedy that the purported stability came at the expense of aggregate demand and bringing the economy to a grinding halt as people are going to the informal businesses that do not pay taxes and rates resulting in fiscus losing significant revenues.
</blockquote>
Mugano warned that if the current liquidity squeeze continues the country’s economic activities will slow down.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Delays Payments To Farmers To Maintain Zim Dollar "Stability"

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations says it is ready to assist farmers in Matabeleland South Province in managing rangeland degradation.
Rangeland degradation is a decrease in plant species diversity, plant height, vegetation cover and plant productivity.
FAO Zimbabwe International resilience specialist Alexander Carr said rangeland productivity has declined, leading to reduced carrying capacity for livestock.
He urged the Government to ensure that policies and regulations are in place to support rangeland conservation while FAO equips farmers with the skills and knowledge to achieve this.
Carr was speaking during a meeting with some of the farmers in Bulawayo on Friday last week. He said:
<blockquote>
Rangelands play a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of pastoral communities, providing grazing land for livestock and a source of income from meat and dairy production hence they should be of utmost priority be preserved.
Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns have altered the distribution and abundance of plant and animal species, leading to changes in ecosystem dynamics.
As a result, rangeland productivity has declined, leading to reduced carrying capacity for livestock and lower yields of meat and dairy products.
This may include practices such as rotational grazing, improved water management as well as the use of alternative sources of livelihoods to reduce pressure on rangeland resources.
</blockquote>
Speaking at the same event, the permanent secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Latiso Dhlamini-Maseko said:
<blockquote>
By restoring degraded rangelands, we can increase their productivity and resilience, improve the livelihoods of pastoral communities, safeguard biodiversity and reduce the risk of land degradation and desertification.
</blockquote>
Matabeleland South Province receives low seasonal rainfall which makes the rangeland highly susceptible to degradation.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

United Nations' FAO Pledges To Assist Farmers In Matabeleland South

Two tobacco farmers in Mashonaland Central Province were targetted by armed robbers recently and lost thousands of cash in United States dollars.
Mash Central provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Major Samuel Chikasha told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/tobacco-farmers-targeted-by-armed-robbers/">The Herald</a> that a family in the tobacco farming business from Batsirai village under Chief Nyamaropa was robbed recently.
Sgt Major Chikasha said Green Bhaira (36), Bridget Nyakupfuka (34) and their 15-year-old daughter were sleeping when Timothy Chikomba (34) of the same village and nine others approached their homestead at around 9 PM.
Chikomba allegedly called for Bhaira saying he was wanted for bailing tobacco belonging to Julias Chikuni.
Bhaira refused to open the door and the robbers forcibly broke down the door. 
Police said Bhaira tried to fight back but was assaulted with an iron bar all over his body.
He escaped and went to his neighbour Lamech Chemusora (40) seeking assistance.
The robbers also assaulted Nyakupfuka with an unknown object on the forehead demanding cash. She gave them US$3 200 and the accused left.
When Bhaira returned with Chemusora the robbers were gone. The matter was reported at Madziwa police base and Chikomba was arrested.
Bhaira and his wife sustained swollen foreheads and were taken to Shamva Hospital where they were treated and discharged.
In another incident that occurred in Mt Darwin, Sgt Major Chikasha said armed robbers pounced on Patricia Kadirire (43) of Kushinga village C under Chief Kandeya.
Kadirire was sleeping with her two children aged 10 and 3 when she was woken up by loud banging at the door at around 1 AM.
Police said the accused, Luckmore Kimbili Murombedzi (32), of Hukama village under Chief Chihota in Chikomba and two others forcibly entered the house.
Kadirire and the children were sprayed with an unknown substance causing them temporary blindness.
The robbers demanded US$4 000 which they said Kadirire received from tobacco sales but she offered them US$735.
While the robbers were busy loading groceries from Kadirire’s tuckshop, the shopkeeper Petros Moffat untied himself and ran to inform Paul Kamukombe who mobilised villagers.
The robbers who were on foot went to the Harare-Mukumbura highway with the loot and were looking for transport.
The villagers managed to apprehend Murombedzi but the other suspects disappeared into the darkness.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Armed Robbers Target Tobacco Farmers

The Government has rejected calls by the opposition to pay farmers for their produce exclusively in United States dollars.
Speaking during a Question and Answer session on Wednesday, Kuwadzana East MP Chalton Hwende (CCC) asked the Government to consider paying farmers in USD to enable them to buy inputs for next season. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200011744/dump-the-failed-zimdollar-mps">Said Hwende</a>:
<blockquote>
The RTGS will not enable these farmers to buy inputs for the next cropping season.
Why is the government not considering paying them in United States dollars for all their produce just like what is being done beyond the borders?
Right now, the government is paying farmers RTGS and expects them to go to shops where prices are being inflated.
</blockquote>
In response, Justice, Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who is also the leader of Government business in Parliament, said the Government will not abandon the Zimbabwe dollar. He said:
<blockquote>
Honourable Hwende is in other words encouraging government not to pay in RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement), but in US dollars. The truth is that we cannot stop paying farmers in RTGS.
We cannot, therefore, say we are no longer paying in RTGS. We cannot dump the RTGS because it has lost value and we adopt another currency.
That is not possible. We have to promote our own currency if we want to control our own economy.
We can only put measures to control and stabilise the inflation rate on the parallel market.
If you look at all the countries around the world, Zambia for example, has once done it, but eventually moved away from that decision and opted for its own currency, the Kwacha.
</blockquote>
Last month, the Government announced that grain farmers will be paid at US$368 per metric tonne.
US$200 will be in foreign currency and the remaining US$168 in Zimbabwe dollars at the interbank rate.
When the local currency was reintroduced in June 2019, it was trading at 1:1 with the US dollar but has since fallen to $1 407 on the official auction market and more than $3 000 on the black market.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Rejects Legislators' Call To Pay Farmers Exclusively In US Dollars

White farmers who lost their land during Zimbabwe’s chaotic land redistribution exercise have made some changes to the government’s proposal of paying the US$3.5 billion compensation through a 10-year commercial paper.
The former farmers rejected the proposal and have made some changes to suit the age profile of the supposed beneficiaries.
Speaking to <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/ex-farmers-turn-heat-on-govt/">Business Times</a> on Wednesday, Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) president Andrew Pascoe said they are currently engaging members to get their views on the Government proposal. Said Pascoe:
<blockquote>
We made some new changes to the government’s proposed deal and currently, we are carrying out surveys with our members to see if they agree to the new proposals.
</blockquote>
In 2020, the Government pledged to compensate the former farm owners in phases.
The first installment of US$1.75 billion was supposed to be paid in 2021 and the balance was to be paid in four equal installments of US$437.5 million per year.
The Government failed to fulfill the promise to the formers farmers and has shifted goalposts on several occasions.
Moreover, critics argue that the compensation does not go far enough to address the harm caused by the land reform programme.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

White Former Farmers Scrutinize Compensation Deal

Zimbabwean white former farmers have rejected the Government’s new compensation proposal of paying in government securities over a 10–year period.
When the agreement was signed in 2020, the government initially wanted to offer payment terms of 20 years but has since decided to expedite the process.
A source privy to the information told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/ex-farmers-reject-govt-deal/">Business Times</a> that the former farm owners want urgent cash payment as most of them are now in their 80s. Said the source:
<blockquote>
Ex-farmers have rejected the Treasury Bonds as they need cash payments with much shorter periods which allow them time to plan with their money due to their age profiles which are between the 80s and 90s.
For that reason, they are not taking any deal which does not include cash in the shortest possible time.
</blockquote>
In February this year, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube, said the compensation will be financed through a Treasury bond, which will have prescribed-asset status and not be liable to any form of taxation as a way to entice investors.
He said farmers will hold a referendum on the matter soon and the bond will be issued once outstanding details are finalised.
Finance and Economic Development deputy minister Clemence Chiduwa told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/ex-farmers-reject-govt-deal/">Business Times</a> that engagements between the parties are continuing. He said:
<blockquote>
At the moment, I am not aware of this position but what I know is that there were some engagements this week and an agreed position will be reached soon as both parties continue to engage to find common ground for compensation to take place.
</blockquote>
Business Times said they could not get a comment from Commercial Farmers Union president Andrew Pascoe as his mobile number went unanswered.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Former Commercial Farmers Reject Revised Govt Deal

Thousands of Belgian farmers from the northern region of Flanders parked tractors in the CBD of the capital, Brussels, on Friday in a protest against a new regional government plan to limit nitrogen emissions.
Many tractors, about 2 700, were decorated with big signs reflecting the farmers’ anger, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/tractors-descend-brussels-farmer-protest-over-plans-limit-nitrogen-emissions-2023-03-03/#:~:text=BRUSSELS%20March%203%20(Reuters)%20%2D,streets%20of%20Brussels%20at%202%2C700.">Reuters</a>.
Agricultural organisations said in a joint statement that the nitrogen agreement as it now stands “will cause a socio-economic carnage“. They wanted the agreement to better reflect future prospects for the farming sector. Watch the video below:
<div>
<video controls="controls" height="360" preload="metadata" width="640"><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploadsVcs7W0f5FCr7H.mp4">https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/91Vcs7W0f5FCr7H.mp4</a></video></div>
Livestock and heavy use of fertilizers, as well as traffic and construction, have led to levels of nitrogen oxides in the air and water in both Belgium and the Netherlands that are higher than EU regulations and that threaten the environment.
The planned move to limit emissions in Flanders has caused a crisis within the Flemish regional government.
In the Netherlands, farmers have refused to cooperate with the government on measures to limit nitrogen emissions, which would significantly reduce livestock in the country.
 It is expected to impact between 5 000 – 15 000 jobs. 
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Thousands Of Belgian Farmers Park Tractors In CBD Over Proposed Law

White former commercial farmers, whose land was compulsorily acquired during the fast-track resettlement programme, have expressed worry about the new payment terms offered by the government.
Last month, the Government proposed new payment terms to compensate the farmers for improvements made on the farms before they were seized at the turn of the Millenium for re-distribution.
Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) president Andrew Pascoe last week said the proposed new payment terms are “completely” different from schedules outlined in the initial deal, also known as the Global Compensation Deed signed in 2020.
Under the original agreement, the farmers were to receive a total of US$3.5 billion between 2020 and 2024.
Half the money had to be paid during the first year, followed by four US$437.5 million annual instalments.
The Government, however, failed to fulfil its obligation. Said Pascoe:
<blockquote>
We have engaged our financial and legal advisors and our biggest worry is that the compensation was going to be much faster than the new terms.
We have proposed some safeguards, which we want to be included in new payment terms; we are waiting for a response from the Government so that discussions can start.
But the major issue is that we want to see if the Government can provide additional safeguards.
</blockquote>
Pascoe did not disclose the finer details citing confidentiality and protocol issues.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said in the 2023 Budget Statement in November last year the Government was still on course to raise the funds.
He said US dollar Treasury bonds would be issued this year to raise US$3.15 billion. | <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/govt-white-farmers-head-for-showdown/">Business Weekly</a>

Govt, White Former Farmers On Collision Course

Farmers have been urged to plant short-season varieties and late-season crops to catch up with time.
Former Zimbabwe National Farmers Union vice president Edward Dune advised farmers to plant late-season crops such as sunflowers, cowpeas and sugar beans. Dune said:
<blockquote>
We are encouraging farmers to go for shorter-season varieties of crops.
They have to wrap up planting now and speed it up to catch up with the time.
Farmers are also encouraged to grow crops which are late season crops like sugar beans, sunflowers and cowpeas.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers’ Trust president, Depinah Nkomo, urged farmers to use fertilisers sparingly if the moisture is inadequate. She said:
<blockquote>
I urge farmers to speed up planting but short-season varieties are ideal at the moment.
If the rains improve, l do not commend farmers to put fertilizers if there is not enough moisture.
Farmers need to speed up planting so that they utilise the rains they received.
I recommend farmers also plant sunflowers which can be planted into the late season.
</blockquote>
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) on Monday forecasted heavy rains across the country between Thursday 29 December 2022 and Tuesday 3 January 2023 beginning in the north and spreading southwards. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/farmers-urged-to-plant-short-season-varieties-2/">The Herald</a>

Farmers Urged To Plant Short Season Varieties

Wheat farmers are accusing the government of abandoning them and leaving them at the mercy of “unscrupulous” millers and contractors.
The government set the producer price of wheat at US$620 per tonne for the ordinary grade but millers and contractors are reportedly offering them between US$450 and US$500 per tonne.
A farmer who refused to be named told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/agriculture/article/200004379/wheat-farmers-cry-foul-over-price">NewsDay</a> that the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is not buying wheat but has only offered storage facilities to the wheat farmers. Said the farmer:
<blockquote>
Government said the producer must be paid US$620, but it is only on paper. GMB said it is not buying any wheat and the millers are offering way below the stipulated prices.
The bumper harvest that we experienced is now a curse and most farmers have vowed not to plant wheat again next year.
</blockquote>
A representative from one of the millers’ associations said the government announced the new producer prices without consulting them. Said the representative:
<blockquote>
The US$500 is the indicative price. The problem with our government is that it just announces the price without consulting.
Sometimes it becomes cheaper to import wheat of high quality than to buy it locally.
The other thing is that most of the wheat farmers are contracted. They have a prior arrangement with their contractors which stipulates the amount of money they are getting paid.
</blockquote>

Grain Millers Buying Wheat Below Stipulated Price - Farmers

The government has urged farmers in drier regions of the country to grow small grains that are more drought-tolerant instead of maize.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka, said farmers in regions 4 and 5 should not grow maize unless they are doing it under irrigation.
Masuka assured farmers that they will be allowed to exchange their small grains for maize at their nearest Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depot.
He was speaking at the handover of plots to farmers who were displaced when Greenfuel took over the ARDA estate in Chisumbanje, on the back of a joint venture agreement around 2009. Said Masuka:
<blockquote>
We know people like maize sadza. When we say farmers should not grow it unless their conditions permit, we are not saying they should forgo eating maize.
We have come up with a plan, in which farmers will take their sorghum to their nearest GMB (Grain Marketing Board) and for every bucket of sorghum, millet, or rapoko, they will get one bucket and a gallon of maize.
</blockquote>
He added that the government has put in place a system to ensure that the grain swaps are done at every GMB depot in the country. | <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-govt-introduces-grain-swap-facility-as-efforts-to-push-up-small-grains-adoption-intensity">The Sunday Mail</a>

Govt Introduces Grain Swap Facility To Encourage Production Of Small Grains

The government has urged resettled farmers under-utilising land to consider joint ventures with investors or risk revocation of offer letters.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka, said his ministry has already developed a template for the joint venture agreement. Said Masuka:
<blockquote>
The ministry is encouraging joint ventures, so if you think you do not have the capacity to farm, Zimbabwe wants production on your farm, so find someone who is able to assist you to farm.
The ministry has established a Joint Venture Unit and we have developed a template for an agreement between a farmer and someone who has the capacity to farm.
We are also creating a database of farmers who have offer letters, but who are not fully utilising their land and creating another database of those people who do not have land but have the capacity to farm.
So that we can do the matching of the farmer who has the land but not sufficiently utilising it and the investor who has the investment and finance, but has no land so that this government does not resort to saying each time we come to your farm, you are not productive, we withdraw your offer letter and give it to someone.
</blockquote>
He said the template of the joint venture agreement was available on the ministry’s website.
Masuka urged farmers to take advantage of initiatives provided by the recently reestablished Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC). He said:
<blockquote>
The Agricultural Finance Corporation has been reestablished to provide financing through the land and development bank.
But also because we realised that one of the issues is capacity at a farm level, you might not have the capacity to purchase a tractor at the farm level and we have given AFC initially 210 tractors.
Three weeks ago, we gave them an additional 400 tractors so that they can assist farmers with tillage operations this season.
We will add more, we think if AFC is leasing 1 500 tractors at any given time it means no farmer can fail to plant on time saying they have failed to receive adequate tillage.
</blockquote>
|<a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/utilise-land-or-risk-losing-farm-offer-letters-agric-minister-warns-lazy-farmers/"> NewZimbabwe.com</a>

"Use It Or Lose It," Agriculture Minister Urges Farmers To Consider Joint Ventures

Farmers have expressed concern over high input costs, especially fertiliser, and have implored the government to intervene and eliminate “profiteering” by businesses.
<a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/concern-over-high-farming-input-costs/">Business Times</a> has established that a 50kg bag of top dressing fertiliser is now selling at US$60, a 33% increase from US$45 last year.
The price of basal fertiliser has also gone up by almost 50% to between US$35-45 per 50kg from around US$25-30 last season.
Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) secretary general, Stewart Mubonderi called for “sensible pricing”. He said:
<blockquote>
We have an excessive profiteering problem in our nation, where individuals want to earn a lot of money in one night, but there will be very few buyers due to the high prices.
So we ask the corporations doing this to be sensible and provide farmers with fair pricing, and also the government to engage them constructively and ensure that these unwarranted price increases we are seeing are stopped and avoided.
</blockquote>
The president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU), Shadreck Makombe, said the high input prices would negatively affect the 2022/23 season. Makombe said:
<blockquote>
There is a need for the government to intervene in the short term through targeted and time limited input subsidies so as to alleviate the plight of vulnerable farmers and to ensure affordable and viable inputs.
It [the price of diesel] has been going down. We would have expected the prices of goods to also go down in tandem with the going down of diesel, which is one of the major inputs in prices.
Unfortunately it’s not happening that way. So at the end of the day farmers are the ones who are suffering.
</blockquote>
Makombe proposed that manufacturers of farming inputs deal directly with farmers to eliminate middlemen in order to reduce the high prices.

Farmers Bemoan High Input Prices

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has increased the local component producer prices for 2022/23 summer crops.
The producer price of maize has been increased to ZWL$100 000 plus US$90 per metric tonne from ZWL$75 000 plus US$90 per metric tonne.
The producer price of traditional grains has also been increased to ZWL$100 000 plus US$90 per metric tonne from ZWL$75 000 plus US$90 per metric tonne.
The price of soya beans has been increased to ZWL$228 660 plus US$90 per metric tonne from ZWL$171 495 plus US$90 per metric tonne.
The price of sunflower has been increased to ZWL$274 392 per metric tonne plus US$90 from ZWL$205 794 plus US$90 per metric tonne.
GMB chief executive officer Rockie Mutenha said the new prices are effective 03 August 2022. He added:
<blockquote>
GMB is encouraging farmers to immediately deliver their crops to the nearest depot or collection point.
We are further encouraging farmers who had not opened their Nostro accounts to do so to enable us to deposit the foreign currency component.
</blockquote>
<table class="table table-bordered table-hover" id="table_1" style="width: 95.9813%; height: 136px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">Commodity</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.98">From</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85">To</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85">Maize</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.53">ZWL75,000 + USD 90.00 per Mt</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.15">ZWL 100,000.00 plus USD 90.00 per Mt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.69">Traditional Grains</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.63">ZWL 75,000 + USD 90.00</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.39">ZWL 100,000.00 plus USD 90.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.62">Soya Beans</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.09">ZWL 171,495 + USD 90.00</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.11">ZWL 228,660.00 plus USD 90.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">Sunflower</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.76">ZWL 205 794 + USD 90.00</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.54">ZWL 274,392.00 plus USD 90.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FZPaO2mUsAA5UFW?format=jpg&amp;name=900x900"/>

GMB Increases Producer Prices Effective 03 August

The Zimbabwe National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has welcomed the US$90 incentive for early grain deliveries recently announced by the Government but said it falls short of their expectation of over US$300 per tonne.
On Tuesday, Cabinet resolved that farmers who deliver maize to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) before the end of July will get an incentive of US$90 per every tonne delivered.
The US dollar incentive is in addition to the ZWL$75 000 per tonne producer price announced several weeks ago.
The ZWL$75 000 is equivalent to about US$166 using the parallel market exchange rate which the farmers use to buy their inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and seeds.
Speaking to Business Times, the Zimbabwe National Farmers Union chairman Stewart Mubonderi, said:
<blockquote>
While this is a welcome development, we still feel that the government has to do more. The reason being that when we were growing the crops almost every input was in US$ up until harvesting.
I would like to believe that between US$300/MT and US$400/MT would be the best price.
If they say US$300 then the other one can be in ZWL$ and it will be okay with our farmers because that would be 80%.
</blockquote>
Mubonderi said the Government is buying maize from other countries for about US$350 per tonne, yet the local farmer is getting US$150 from GMB. He said:
<blockquote>
Why not give US$300 to the farmer or US$280 to the farmer? Then the farmer is motivated to grow, we save foreign currency that way, and all the crop is brought into the country and is handed over to the GMB.
</blockquote>
The GMB is notorious for making late payments to farmers and their proceeds would have been eroded by inflation by the time the cash lands in their bank accounts.
<h4>More: <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/farmers-reject-govt-incentive/">Business Times</a></h4>

Farmers Welcome USD Incentive... But Plead For More

Unions representing farmers said the ZWL$75 000 per maize tonne being offered by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) is too little.
On Tuesday, acting Information Minister, Jenfan Muswere told reporters in a post-Cabinet briefing that maize farmers will be given a fixed incentive of US$90 per tonne for early deliveries to GMB in addition to the ZWL$75 000.
Last month the Government also announced that grain farmers will be paid 30 per of their proceeds for deliveries to GMB in US dollars, with the rest being paid in Zimbabwe dollars.
Speaking to NewsDay on Tuesday, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Shadreck Makombe said:
<blockquote>
As it stands, the value of the $75 000 (US$150 parallel market rate) producer price has already been eroded.
Given the trend in terms of the exchange rate and inflation, I don’t foresee farmers managing to go back to the fields.
There is, therefore, a need to review the producer price to be in tandem with the movement of the exchange rate.
Farmers are lobbying for an increase in producer price, but it’s premature for me to say how much.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Manicaland provincial manager Dennis Chisevure said:
<blockquote>
With the current producer price, it won’t be possible to afford inputs.
However, the government is making plans to cushion farmers and to review the producer price.
This follows a push from farmers and unions.
</blockquote>
Norton Farmers Association chairperson Orphias Matibhiri said some farmers end up selling their maize to individuals in US dollars for them to afford inputs.
A 25kg bag of seed maize now costs between $30 000 and $42 000, while 50kg Compound D fertiliser costs US$35 or $17 500; and Ammonium Nitrate is now pegged at US$70 or $35 000.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/06/govt-dangles-us90-incentive-for-maize/">NewsDay</a></h4>

GMB Maize Producer Price Too Little - Farmers

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has warned farmers and producers of controlled grain such as maize, soybeans, wheat and barley that selling their produce to any buyer other than GMB is an offence.
In a statement on Wednesday, 1 June 2022, GMB chief executive officer Rockie Mutenha said all farmers or producers of controlled grains are required to deliver products to any nearest GMB depot. He said:
<blockquote>
Farmers/producers who intend to retain a portion of the product for farm feed or another commercial usage shall apply for exemption from GMB.
No one is allowed to sell or buy maize and any controlled product other than through GMB unless one is a bona fide contractor registered with the Agricultural Marketing Authority of Zimbabwe (AMA).
</blockquote>
Mutenha also said that all farmers, producers and contractors are required to apply for a movement permit if they want to move their grain from one area to another. Said Mutenha:
<blockquote>
Trading in controlled products (buying or selling) without the authority of the GMB is an offence.
All stores, millers, stock feeders and any other users of controlled products are required to register with the GMB before engaging in such business.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-farmers-warned-on-illegal-grain-trading">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Farmers Ordered To Get GMB Exemption To Consume Their Grain

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB), the custodian of the country’s grain reserves, indefinitely suspended grain allocations to millers for unclear reasons, reported NewsDay.
The publication quoted players in the grain industry on Tuesday as saying GMB reduced maize allocations to millers from 100% to 75% in February and further cut them to 50% last month.
A miller who wanted to remain anonymous was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
We have gone for more than six weeks without an allocation. We are getting supplies every four weeks.
We used to apply and get allocations each month, then submit returns around mid-month. We started getting 75% three months ago, then last month, it went down to 50%.
On Friday last week, we made payments and waited for allocations, but everything just stopped.
They didn’t give us any reasons, but we are told by people at GMB that they want to increase the maize producer price in order to attract deliveries because the $75 000 is now very low.
We are also told stocks are running out and it’s obviously true and that’s why they allowed us to import freely.
</blockquote>
A top executive with one of the country’s major millers who preferred anonymity said:
<blockquote>
Things were normal and I can confirm the allocations were just stopped and we don’t really know why. I wouldn’t want to lie, but we can only speculate.
</blockquote>
Another senior official with a top milling firm told NewsDay that authorities should allow millers to access foreign currency at the RBZ auction. Said the official:
<blockquote>
The question for us major millers is that we move huge volumes and our shareholders will be worried about this scenario, where you import maize in US dollars and then you don’t know if you are allowed to sell in US dollars to recover your money without having to then go to the black market and risk huge exchange rate losses.
It would be better if they allowed us to go on the auction like what oil expressers are doing.
</blockquote>
Grain is in short supply due to inadequate rainfall in the 2021/22 season as well as the withholding of produce by farmers who want more cash for their harvest.
GMB increased the maize producer by 50% to $75 000 per tonne and the government said it would be paying 30% in US dollars and the rest in local currency.
However, farmers immediately demanded a 50% US dollar payment for their grain.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/06/hunger-looms-as-grain-runs-out/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Hunger Looms As GMB Runs Out Of Grain

Economic commentators say the Grain Marketing Board (GMB)’s monopoly on the marketing of maize is killing the market, especially small-holder farmers.
Agricultural economist Mandivamba Rukuni said that the Government should offer farmers 50% part payment for grain in US dollars.
The Government has offered to pay farmers 30% in US dollars and 70% in Zimbabwe dollars for delivered grain. Said Rukuni:
<blockquote>
I think the issue has been about pricing. I hope government will review the prices to 50% payment in forex because it would cost the country US dollars anyway to import grain. It’s a win-win situation for both and government and farmers.
</blockquote>
Another economic commentator, Victor Bhoroma said the price of all agricultural products should be determined by market forces. He said:
<blockquote>
Well, the challenge we have with the GMB monopoly on maize is that it kills market access for small-holder farmers, dents viability, creates inefficiencies in the economy and leads to rent-seeking behaviour by those with access to GMB or authorities.
Pricing for any agriculture commodity needs to be set by growers or be determined in an open market such as the commodity exchange.
Anything else will lead to a decline in production and food insecurity. GMB cannot set a competitive price, and pay for the grain on time and efficiently.
History will tell you. Millers cannot operate through buying from GMB as long as the price is above market price.
</blockquote>
Last week, the Government resolved to use soldiers and police to seize grain from farmers to prevent the side-marketing of grains.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/05/proposed-raids-on-grain-farmers-raises-stink/">NewsDay</a></h4>

"GMB Monopoly Killing Market For Small-holder Farmers"

Grain farmers have welcomed the decision by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to pay 30 per cent of their proceeds in US dollars but have pleaded for the forex component of the payments to be raised to 50 per cent.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) president Abdul Nyathi told NewsDay that all farming inputs are now being sold in US dollars. Nyathi said:
<blockquote>
We welcome the 30% offered although we would have wanted it to be 50% for a start. We hope in the next season or when it comes to the selling season it will be revised maybe to 50%.
We welcome the government’s move that it has at least understood that the purchase of all supplies, in fact, all inputs is in the USD.
It was very difficult for farmers to use the parallel exchange rate even the bank rate was too little to make anything towards the cost of inputs so with this move that has given us 30%, we welcome that and we also hope that they will also see that it needs to be improved as times goes on.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Shadreck Makombe said it would be ideal if farmers get 100% of their payments in foreign currency. He said:
<blockquote>
The granting of 30% is in the right direction for a start by the government, however, as farmers, we would want to recover our costs if we look at what is prevailing in the economy, the fluctuations and the inflation are indicating that we may not go back to the field.
Yes, we are happy with the 30%, but we are hoping that it adds up to 50% and 70% and eventually 100% as it is saving imports expenses.
</blockquote>
Last week, GMB advised farmers that it was paying them 30% for their maize and traditional grains in United States dollars and 70% in Zimbabwe dollars.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/05/maize-farmers-plead-for-a-50-usd-payment/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Grain Farmers Plead For A 50% USD Payment

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has urged farmers to open Nostro accounts to enable them to receive US dollar payments for grain deliveries.
In a statement, GMB chief executive officer Rockie Mutenha said:
<blockquote>
The GMB is encouraging farmers to update their Nostro banking details with our supply chain managers at all depots throughout the country for timeous payments.
For those with GMB farmer cards, the Nostro accounts will be automatically generated in our system.
</blockquote>
On Saturday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube announced that farmers who deliver their grain to GMB will get 30 per cent of their proceeds in US dollars and 70 per cent in Zimbabwe dollars.
Ncube said the payment will be calculated at the prevailing willing buyer willing seller rate. He said:
<blockquote>
In the quest to incentivise farmers and encourage early deliveries of maize and other grains to the Grain Marketing Board, the government has taken the decision to pay the maize farmers 30% of the amount due on grain delivered in United States Dollars and 70% in domestic Zimbabwe dollars.
The US Dollar payment will be calculated at the prevailing willing buyer willing seller rate published by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on the date of delivery.
The payments will be backdated to the date of the first deliveries of this season’s maize to GMB.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/open-nostro-accounts-gmb-tells-farmers">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

GMB Tells Farmers To Open Nostro Accounts

Farmers in Midlands Province have rejected the new Grain Marketing Board (GMB) grain prices that were announced by the government last week.
Farmers who spoke to Southern Eye said that the prices do not allow them to break even and they would rather sell their maize to the highest bidders.
Last month the Government<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/04/27/grain-soya-bean-producer-prices-go-up/"> announced an upward review of the floor producer prices of maize, soya beans, traditional grains and sunflower</a>.
The producer price for maize and traditional grains was raised to ZWL$75 000 per tonne.
Previously, the floor producer price of maize was ZWL$58 553 while that of traditional grains was ZWL$70 263.90.
In US dollar terms, the new price of grain is around US$180 using black market rates.
Herbert Choruma, a Gokwe farmer said the Government should consider paying farmers for their produce in foreign currency. He said:
<blockquote>
The producer prices should be pegged in US dollar because our local currency is not stable.
</blockquote>
Another farmer Sheila Muronziwa said the Government cannot expect farmers to deliver their grain to GMB considering the “uncompetitive” prices on offer. Said Muronziwa:
<blockquote>
The maize and traditional grains producer prices of $75 000 per metric tonne by GMB are uncompetitive.
We are now contemplating on selling our produce on the black market.
Government cannot expect farmers to produce when it is paying such low prices for grain. 
The production chain will be hamstrung.
</blockquote>
Farmers claim that it costs US$100 to prepare a hectare of land and two applications of herbicides also cost US$100. Kwekwe farmer Misheck Shumba said:
<blockquote>
That farmer also requires labour to remove weeds and tender the crops. Farmers are simply going to sell their produce to the highest bidder.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, t<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/04/30/farmers-ordered-to-deliver-grain-to-gmb-within-14-days-of-harvesting/">he GMB recently said all maize, soya beans, wheat and barley farmers should deliver their produce to any nearest GMB depot within 14 days of harvesting.</a>
GMB also warned that those who ignore the directive risk prosecution as well as losing their produce.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/05/midlands-farmers-reject-new-grain-prices/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Midlands Farmers Reject New Maize Producer Prices

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) says all maize, soya beans, wheat and barley farmers should deliver their produce to any nearest GMB depot within 14 days of harvesting.
Zimbabwe is facing a looming food shortage caused by poor rainfall during the 2021/22 summer season which caused crops to fail across much of the country.
In a statement on Friday, 29 April, GMB said maize, soya beans, wheat and barley were controlled products and farmers who intend to retain a portion of the product, shall apply for an exemption. Part of the statement read:
<blockquote>
The GMB wishes to advise all farmers that maize, soya beans, wheat and barley are controlled products in terms of the following Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instrument 145 Grain Marketing (Control of Sale of Maize) Regulations, 2019 Statutory Instrument 97 Grain Marketing (Control of Sale of Soya Beans) Regulations, 2021, Statutory Instrument 188 Grain Marketing (Control of Sale of Wheat and Barley) Regulations, 2021.
All farmers or producers of controlled products are required to deliver the product to any nearest GMB depot within 14 days of harvesting.
Farmers/producers, who intend to retain a portion of the product, shall apply for exemption from GMB.
</blockquote>
GMB also warned that those who violate the regulations risk prosecution as well as losing their produce. Added the statement:
<blockquote>
Trading in controlled products (buying or selling) without the authority of the GMB is an offence.
All storers, millers, stock feeders and any other users of controlled products are required to register with the GMB before engaging in such business.
GMB shall be enforcing the above statutory instruments to ensure compliance.
Those found in breach of the regulations risk prosecution, forfeiture of the grains and a fine three times the selling price of the controlled product.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/04/govt-holds-grain-farmers-hostage/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Farmers Ordered To Deliver Grain To GMB Within 14 Days Of Harvesting

The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) says it has so far paid $25 billion to farmers for deliveries during the 2021 marketing season.
The parastatal, however, still owes farmers $1.79 billion for the grain already delivered to its depots.
GMB has received over 733 000 tonnes of grain from farmers valued at $26.9 billion as deliveries continue.
GMB chief executive Rockie Mutenha yesterday implored farmers to deliver their crops as payments were on course.
This comes after some farmers have complained over delays in payments, a development that has hindered preparations for the coming summer cropping season.
Mutenha said some delays could have been caused by some banks, but the majority of farmers received their money soon after the Heroes holiday. He said:
<blockquote>
We have received 733 532 tonnes of maize from farmers compared to 116 671 tonnes during the same period last year.
Farmers have also delivered 75 689 tonnes of traditional grains up from the 3 677 tonnes sold to the GMB during the corresponding period last year.
So far we have paid $25,1 billion to farmers and we still owe $1,79 billion. We paid farmers soon after the holiday and I am sure by now most farmers have received their money.
</blockquote>
The GMB gets money from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development every week for grain purchases.
Treasury allocated $60 billion to the GMB to buy the maize and traditional grains from farmers.
The parastatal is paying $32 000 per tonne for maize and $38 000 per tonne of traditional grains.
GMB is expecting up to 1.8 million tonnes of grains from farmers.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/gmb-pays-farmers-25bn/">The Herald</a></h4>

Grain Marketing Board Pays $25 Billion To Farmers

Farmers are reportedly falling prey to cunning or parasitic middlemen who are hijacking their produce and dictating prices, the Daily News reports. The matter came to light last frinday during the unveiling of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Sector Survey organised by The Financial Gazette in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society when UZ Senior Lecturer Judith Mutambara said:
<blockquote>I have a very touching experience with farmers in Norton who told me that they are doing horticulture and they said they were doing very well. They, however, said their problem is that they cannot take their produce to town because middlemen hijack the produce and dictate prices.
This seemed to be a problem of the farmer, but it is a problem of policy. We have the Ministry of Agriculture and the police. I fail to understand why we cannot send the police to Mbare market to ensure that farmers are able to sell their produce without the interference of third parties.</blockquote>
Mutambara called on the government to review policies in terms of marketing so that hard working Zimbabweans do not fall prey of such parasitic individuals and said:
<blockquote>When farmers get to the market, their products are hijacked by middle men who dictate the price. These are parasitic actors trying to make big margins from people that have sweated and is that fair? It’s a disincentive, you won’t see a future in production. So we also need to strengthen our policies in
terms of marketing.</blockquote>
About  70% of Zimbabweans survive on farming or on activities related to farming.
More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/ensure-food-security-to-avoid-civil-unrest/">Daily News </a>

Middlemen Hijacking Farmers Produce And Dictating The Price - Farmers Lament

GMB is expecting farmers to have brought in 60 000 tonnes of maize by the end of this month, The Herald reports. Farmers have reportedly already delivered, 46 092 tonnes of maize, 1 000 tonnes of sorghum, 907 tonnes of soybeans and 69 tonnes of millet so far.
Speaking to the publication, GMB CEO Mr Rockie Mutenha said:
<blockquote>We estimate to have received 60 000 tonnes by end of June. End of June last year we had received 18 046 tonnes of maize. GMB also arranged availability of fertiliser at depots so that farmers accessed fertiliser on time and before prices go up.</blockquote>
GMB promised farmers who bring their grains early to their depots a 30% incentive which means farmers who brought their grains early got about $16 000 per tonne.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/gmb-expects-more-grain-deliveries/">The Herald </a>

Farmers Expected To Deliver Upto 60 000 Tonnes Of Maize To The GMB By Monthend

Farmers at Umguza Irrigation Lots in Matabeleland North Province have scaled down farming operations due to rising inputs and production costs.
This was revealed by Umguza Irrigation Lots chairperson Antony Khepha Dube. He said:
<blockquote>Farming is no longer viable due to the high cost of inputs such as fertilisers, which now cost over $400 for a bag of 50 kgs.
Electricity also went up by 300 per cent, the same as water. Most farmers are reeling under huge debts owed to utilities.
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZINWA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zinwa</a> (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) has already sent warning letters to most of the farmers threatening to cut water supplies due to outstanding debts.</blockquote>
Most of the farmers at the Umguza Irrigation Lots are beneficiaries of the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Third_Chimurenga" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fast Track Land Reform Programme</a>.
They sell their produce to Bulawayo and several other districts in <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Matabeleland_North_Province" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matabeleland North Province</a>.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/production-costs-push-farmers-out/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunday News</a></h4>

Rising Production Costs Push Farmers Off The Land

Namibia intends to cover its fresh fruit and vegetable deficit with imports from Zimbabwe.
This was revealed by the country’s Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Briefing reporters on the outcome of the 9th Session of the Namibia-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation held in Namibia last week, Nandi-Ndaitwah revealed that the two countries have started implementing provisions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement. She said:
<blockquote>Once that agreement is signed, then the two countries have to notify the World Trade Organisation because of the trade agreement the two countries will have.
Namibia has been given a task to inform the World Trade Organisation on that matter and that has to be done before the end of October 2019.</blockquote>
The horticultural products identified for trade between the two counties include passion fruit, fine beans, peas (mange tout and sugar snap, all berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries), baby vegetables such as carrots, baby corn, baby marrow, courgettes, and chillies, among others.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zim-to-export-fruit-and-veggies-to-namibia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Zim Farmers To Sell Horticultural Products To Namibia

In his Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said resettled farmers will no longer get farm implements from government for free.
He said there is need for farmers to graduate from relying on Government for farming equipment. Part of TSP reads:
<blockquote>The Transitional Stabilisation Programme recognises the need for farmers to graduate from practices where the greater part of their requirements, for such equipment as tractors, and disc ploughs, is provided for by Government. Movement towards a market based supply and demand driven approach would be more efficient and sustainable, and also reducing the greater burden of reliance on the fiscus. Government would provide and target the necessary incentives, such as extending duty concessions on importation of mechanisation equipment to also include spares.</blockquote>
<hr/>
<h4>Also Read:</h4>
<ul>
<li>
<h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/10/05/download-pdf-finance-minister-mthuli-ncubes-transitional-stabilisation-programme/">Download PDF: Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme</a></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<hr/>

Farmers Latest News

Latest Jobs