Zim has announced incentive planning prices for maize and traditional grains at US$335.03/MT, soyabean at USD569.02/MT and sunflower at USD569.02/MT.
“In assisting farmers to make informed production decisions, the Government is announcing incentive planning prices for maize, traditional grains and sunflower for the 2023/24 production season.
“A viable incentive planning price will incentivise farmers to commit more land under the specific strategic crops. The planning pricing system being proposed is consistent with achieving both food and nutrition security and macroeconomic stability. This is against the prediction on an Eli Nino season,” Dr Anxious Masuka, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development told a media briefing also attended by Finance and Economic Development Minister, Prof Mthuli Ncube.
Dr Masuka said sunflower is a key oil seed crop that can catalyse rural development for the attainment of Vision 2030, as this is a smallholder crop suitable for the dry regions.
“It is, therefore, appropriate to sufficiently incentivise farmers to produce sunflower, while targeting to save USD200 million spent annually on crude oil imports and producing surplus for the export market,” he added.
Importation of maize by private players will be allowed in view of the predicted El Nino, to build national stocks while mealie meal imports by households will continue.
Importation of soyabeans by private players will be allowed in view of the predicated El Nino, to build national stocks.
