- GMB has secured USD 5 million and ZWG 15 million to settle outstanding wheat payments
- Payments now total USD 28 million and ZWG 230 million
- The initiative aims to alleviate debts owed to farmers ahead of the winter wheat season
Harare-The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has secured USD 5 million and ZWG 15 million this week to settle outstanding wheat payments, pushing total disbursements to USD 28 million and ZWG 230 million, according to the board’s latest circular.
This payment initiative aims to settle outstanding debts to farmers as they prepare for the winter wheat season.
“The Grain Marketing Board has received USD 5 million and ZWG 15 million for wheat payments this week, bringing total payments for wheat deliveries to USD 28 million and ZWG 230 million,” said the board’s Chief Executive Officer, Edson Badarai.
As of April 2025, the estimated debt stood at USD 43 million, with the ZWG amount unknown, and attempts to seek clarity from the GMB on the total debt and payment period received no response within 24 hours.
The winter wheat season runs from mid-April to late May, with planting sometimes extending to mid-June.
The marketing season for wheat, following the August-to-October harvest, typically spans September to November, during which farmers deliver wheat to the GMB or sell through the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange.
Zimbabwe’s push for wheat self-sufficiency, targeting an annual production of 600,000 tonnes, has driven significant progress, with 2024 yielding a record 555,824 tonnes, surpassing the previous high of 465,548 tonnes in 2023.
Wheat farmers face numerous challenges that threaten their livelihoods and the nation’s food security goals.
Delayed payments from the GMB, as highlighted by outstanding debts for 2023 and 2024 deliveries, force farmers to borrow at high interest rates or reduce production, with some waiting over a year for funds.
Chronic foreign currency shortages hinder the GMB’s ability to pay in USD, critical for farmers facing USD-based input costs like fertilizers and fuel.
Power supply for irrigation remains a concern, despite government allocations of 100 -150 megawatts, and reliance on the national grid limits self-sufficiency.
High input costs, estimated at USD 1,700–2,100 per hectare, require yields above 4 tonnes per hectare to break even, a challenge for smallholders with constrained resources.
Poor infrastructure, including inadequate roads and transport, increases costs and limits market access, forcing farmers to sell at lower prices locally.
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