GOVERNMENT has adopted a structured liberalised marketing arrangement for strategic commodities and is currently reviewing all statutory instruments (SI) controlling marketing of agricultural goods, for example, SI 145 of 2019. Cabinet approved floor producer prices for maize, traditional grains, soya bean, sunflower and wheat.

These are now obligatory prices only for commodities being purchased by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and financed by Government. Self-financed farmers will sell to the best advantage on the market or to GMB.

All private contractors are obligated to buy back contracted crops at market prices. This new arrangement requires a transparent price discovery mechanism. This is why Government partnered with the private sector to establish the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange (ZMX).

Read more: Govt policy on marketing strategic commodities