Government owes farmers a total of ZW$1.8 billion and US$2 million for grain stocks delivered as at October 2 2022.
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) grain stocks as at 2 October, 2022 stood at 550 673 metric tonnes comprising 474 966 metric tonnes of maize and 75 909 metric tonnes of traditional grains.
Social welfare consumption is set at 15 000 metric tonnes per month while total consumption per month is forecast at 40 000 metric tonnes.
Using this monthly consumption rate of 40 000 metric tonnes, the available grain will last for 13.8 months.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told a post Cabinet briefing on Tuesday that Treasury has so far availed a total of ZW$14 437 billion and US$16 354 million for farmer payments.
Government currently keeps a strangle hold on farmers and where they can deliver their grain.
Selling grain anywhere either than the GMB can get a farmer arrested, as pronounced through a Statutory Instrument gazetted earlier this year.
Insiders say the stranglehold on farmers regards who they can sell their grain could dissuade other farmers from farming the crop next season.
