Grain deliveries to GMB top 1,5m tonnes

farmers through the Command Agriculture programme, the GMB has been able to receive record quantities of grain.

“At the moment we are on a nationwide programme to educate farmers on how to dry and store their grain before they deliver it to the GMB.

“We encourage farmers to liaise with the GMB Quality Assurance Department to avoid cases of post-harvest losses due to insects and moisture,’’ Mr Mukuvara said.

GMB has previously clashed with farmers after rejecting their grain due to high moisture content levels.

“We would like to inform our farmers that the expected moisture level for maize in particular should be 12 percent or below to enable bulk storage.

“The issue of national food security is not about keeping mountains and mountains of grain that is not fit for human consumption. It must be quality-assured food,’’ said Mr Mukuruva.

Turning to the food security situation in Masvingo, Mr Mukuruva said the GMB Masvingo depot had sufficient maize stocks to feed the 45 wards in both rural and urban areas of Masvingo District.

Mr Mukuruva also said distribution of winter wheat inputs was expected to start next month.

He revealed that Government was in the process of establishing concrete silos at all GMB depots countrywide to facilitate grain storage.

Currently, only 12 out of the 84 GMB depots have silos with the rest relying on tents and shades.

Government availed $36 million to the GMB during the 2017-18 marketing season to improve storage facilities at the depots.

The purpose of the media tour was to disseminate information to the public on the successes and challenges that were faced by the GMB during the 2017-18 marketing season which lapses on April 1, 2018.