GOVERNMENT has been urged to pay farmers immediately after taking delivery of their grain so that they can recoup their costs on time and manage to prepare for the next farming season so they can produce profitably.
The call was made by legislators during a Parliamentary session on Tuesday. They said the delay in paying farmers has led them to approach private players.
Rushinga MP Tendai Nyabani urged government to buy farmers' produce at a competitive price.
“We urge government to pay farmers as soon as they receive their deliveries,” Nyabani said.
“Government should fund Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry in its different programmes for prosperity.”
Nyabani said some farmers failed to farm after encountering delays in their payments by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
Such situations impact farmers’ livelihoods as well as their produce.
“We have seen that farmers are not putting their all because GMB delays with their payments, which in some instances take two to three years to be processed,” Nyabani added.
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Shamva South MP Joseph Mapika said GMB has its equipment maintained and in full function for the benefit of the nation at large.
“Government should set aside a quick-fix fund, which will solve different problems faced by farmers. The Ministry of Lands should inform the citizens that most depots do not have grains as we witnessed during the committee tour,” he said.
Mwenezi West MP Priscilla Moyo said farmers should be empowered so that the nation benefits and the GMB should buy farmers’ produce at competitive prices so that they continue in business.
“My request to the nation is that they need to value agriculture. Prioritise farming .We have areas like Masvingo, which have underutilised water resources. We need to come up with irrigation plans,” Moyo said.
