THE Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) says the government needs to constantly review the pre-planting producer prices of grains so that farmers do not lose the value of their crops.
This comes after the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) on Tuesday announced the new pre-planting producer prices.
The 2022 season pre-planting producer prices per metric tonne for maize is $58 553. 25; traditional grains $70 263.90; soya bean $125 530.17 and sunflower $150 636. 20.
These prices would be effective from April 1 next year.
Last season, prices per metric tonne were $32 000 for maize, sorghum $38 000, millet $38 000, soya bean $48 000 and sunflower $40 000.
ZFU secretary-general Paul Zakariya yesterday said the pre-planting prices should be constantly reviewed to preserve the value of the grain as inputs prices were constantly going up.
“It’s a good thing that the prices have been reviewed as the prices only give an indication of the value of the grain,” Zakariya told the Daily News.
“In an economic environment like this, what we need to do is to track the market, which means GMB together with farmers need to be constantly adjusting that price to ensure that farmers receive a fair value of their crops.
“It will ensure grower viability as the value announced today will not be the same in the next 14 days.
“We do not want farmers to lose the value of their crops as the price for everything is going up, including that of inputs.”
Zakariya said the financial return from growing the crop would be revealed during market days.
“Growers’ viability of the price will be revealed in the selling season as for now farmers are still planting. We will be harvesting and selling around May to August and that is when we can say the producer price was viable,” Zakariya said.
The president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union, Shadreck Makombe, said the new prices would help farmers recover their money, but increase of production costs will be a huge challenge.
“The pre-planting producer price is good for farmers. It will help farmers retool and recapitalise. Unfortunately, if the past trends continue it will be quite regrettable.
“Businessmen will also hike inputs prices. Inputs producers should be ethical to create a win-win situation. For now, we are happy with the prices announced,” Makombe said.
by
Melisa Chatikobo
STAFF WRITER