Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 30986, member: 636"] Farmers liked the prices announced yesterday by the Grain Marketing Board but asked for regular updates based on market changes. GMB shared on X that they will pay $376.48 per ton for maize and traditional grains. Soybean will fetch $580 and sunflower $668.98 per ton. They set winter wheat at $451.35 per ton. The board plans to purchase mainly from farmers supported through the Presidential Input Programme and irrigation schemes. According to GMB, these prices aim to balance food security with economic stability. They expect contractors to buy back contracted produce at market prices. The board will partner with the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange to provide warehouse receipt services for all agricultural players. Dr. Shadreck Makombe of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union believes the prices compare well with regional markets right away but might need increases later. Makombe explained that production costs keep climbing because input prices rise constantly. Zimbabwe National Farmers Union president Monica Chinamasa stressed that payment methods matter just as much as price. Farmers need clarity about whether they'll receive full foreign currency payments or partial amounts, plus information about payment timing after crop delivery. She pointed out that rising input costs keep eating into farmer profits. Depinah Nomo from Zimbabwe Women Farmers Trust welcomed the announced prices but expects government reviews whenever input costs increase. She emphasized that since maize and traditional grains feed the nation, prices should motivate farmers to produce commercially. Agricultural expert Dr. Reneth Mano praised the policy shift where GMB buys only enough grain for strategic reserves instead of acting as the sole purchaser. The government has narrowed down which farmer categories it targets for grain purchases. Dr. Mano called this a deliberate move toward liberalizing grain and oilseed marketing systems. He noted that Zimbabwe currently offers the highest grain producer prices regionally. The permanent solution requires sensible domestic policies that reduce farming costs, including fertilizer, fuel, water, and loan interest rates, to match neighboring countries. ZMX should become the central agricultural marketplace where both large and small commercial farmers freely sell crops to private processing companies. Prices would be determined through daily auctions based on willing buyers and sellers. Dr. Mano believes efficient agricultural marketing and predictable pricing create the foundation for successful national food development strategies. This system helps everyone participate fairly in the agricultural economy. [/QUOTE]

Name