1.0 UPDATE ON THE SUMMER AND WINTER CROPS MARKETING 

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Honourable Dr Anxious Masuka, presented the Update on the Summer and Winter Crops Marketing, which was adopted by Cabinet. 

Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that the 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 respectively. Wheat stocks of 231 776 metric tonnes as at 19 November, 2023 will last eleven months at a monthly drawdown rate of 21 000 metric tonnes. The monthly consumption for grains is now estimated at 23 000 MT comprising 20 000MT maize for Millers, and 3 000MT sorghum for stock feed manufacturers. 

Regarding the summer crops marketing update, the nation is informed that the GMB intake was 39% market share of all the marketed crops with 47% share of maize; 7.3% of soya bean; 41% of sunflower and 64% of traditional grains. Government is expediting the settlement of outstanding payments due to farmers.