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The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has requested the government to grant them permission to buy maize directly from the farmers and pay them in US dollars.
Zimbabwe has for a long time been depending on maize imports mainly because of erratic rainfall, poor farming planning and abuse of farming inputs.
In an effort to feed the starving nation, the government gave the private sector with free funds to import maize around the world.
In a media briefing GMAZ chairman Mr Musarara said the prevailing grain shortage was man-made adding that there is need to correct it.
He said: “We have also requested that millers be allowed to go and buy maize directly from farmers in either local currency or US dollars because some of the maize we are importing, we have been paying in US dollars using free funds.”
The country requires 1.8 million tonnes of grain annually for both human and livestock consumption.
Mr Musarara said buying grain from the local farmers would also empower the farmers, while at the same time saving the country millions of dollars in foreign currency.
“We feel that those with free funds and doing other products like stock feeds might want to use their funds and go outside Bulawayo, for example, and pay the local farmer in US dollars as compared to paying the local farmer in local currency yet we still remain importing and paying the foreign farmer in US dollars.
“We feel the Government must consider doing this so that we promote our own farmers,” he said.
During the media briefing Mr Musarara said GMAZ also proposed for subsidized roller meal price review in local currency at an equivalent exchange rate of between US$2.50 and US$3.50 per 10 kilograms.
“At present, under the subsidised roller meal programme, which began early this year, the retail price of a 10 kilogramme bag was pegged at $70.”
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