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Summer and Winter Crops marketing which was adopted by the Cabinet has made strides in securing food security.
Speaking during the press briefing in the cabinet yesterday Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural development Anxious Masuku gave an update on crop marketing.
He cited that dry land tobacco planting has slowed down because of late rains; 40 contractors have registered for tobacco production with the total indicative area contracted at 148 000 hectares. To date, total of 31 681 hectares of tobacco have been planted representing a 4,6 percent increase above last year during the same period.
“Grain Marketing Board Stocks as at 19 /11/23 for maize and traditional grains stood at 194 429 metric tonnes and 47 477 metric tonnes, wheat stocks of 231 776 drawdown rate of 21 000 metric tonnes.
Regarding summer crop marketing the nation is informed that the GMB intake was 39 percent market share of all the marketed crops with 47 percent share of maize, 7,3 percent of soya bean, 41 percent of sunflower and 64 percent of traditional grains and the government is expediting the settlement of outstanding payments due to farmers”.
He also mentioned that there is adequate fertilizer for the Presidential Program and other schemes and other farmers can now import fertilizer for own use following approval by government.
Regarding cotton, 11 contractors have indicated the intention of contracting farmers this season while nine contractors have contracted growers.
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