Source: GMB to set up 1 800 collection points and 89 depots – herald

Dr Anxious Masuka

Raymond Jaravaza, ray.jaravaza@chronicle.co.zw

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) will set up 1 804 collection points and 89 depots for a convenient and cost-effective mechanism that will allow farmers to timeously deliver maize and traditional grains for a successful 2025/2026 summer crops marketing season.

Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Honourable Dr Anxious Masuka, in his update of the 2025/2026 Summer Crops Marketing and 2026 Winter Crops Production Plan to Cabinet on Tuesday, said GMB has grain stocks of 169 946 metric tonnes of maize, traditional grains and wheat.

Farmers, service providers and transporters will now be paid timeously paid, noted Dr Masuka.

“ The proposed marketing arrangements notes that there are five categories of farmers namely farmers financed under the climate proofed Presidential Input Scheme (Pfumvudza/Intwasa), self-financed farmers, those supported by AFC and CBZ financial institutions, farmers financed by private contractors and farmers financed by ARDA.

“During the 2025/2026 marketing season, GMB has received 40 693.28 metric tonnes of grain from ARDA and substantial intake from communal farmers for the strategic grain reserve. GMB also plans to aggregate grain from farmers through its 1 804 collection points and 89 depots,” said Dr Masuka.

Meanwhile 330.6 million kilogrammes of tobacco have been sold at an average price of US$2.50 per kilogramme.

“This is an 11 percent increase in volume and 25 percent in average price compared to the previous season, where 299.2 million kilogrammes were sold at an average price of US$3.36 per kg. Auction tobacco prices in 2026 have shown gradual recovery despite periods of mid-season volatility.

“Average auction prices increased from around US$1.60 per kg at the start of the season to approximately US$2.54 per on day 71 of the tobacco marketing season, reflecting improved market performance in recent weeks.

As of last week, 5 079 907 kilogrammes of cotton had been marketed compared to 310 625 kilogrammes during the same period last year.

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