Payment frustrations push peri-urban farmers away from maize

Some farmers in Bulawayo’s peri-urban farming areas have abandoned maize production this season in favour of soya beans, citing attractive market prices and more reliable payment systems. Farmers who spoke to CITE said competitive prices offered by private buyers coupled with efficient payment methods have enticed many plot holders around Bulawayo to venture into soya bean production. One of the farmers who successfully planted soya beans at his plot in Esigodini is Langton Gwete.

“This year I tried soya beans for the first time on my plot after suffering years of frustration with the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) which has not fully paid me for maize deliveries since 2025. Over the years, GMB has consistently delayed payments to maize farmers, often taking months to settle deliveries, leaving many producers financially strained,” he said. “With soya beans, I already have buyers promising on-the-spot payment as soon as I complete harvesting.

That assurance alone gives a farmer peace of mind,” he said. During the 2023/2024 marketing season, farmers were able to fetch around US$520 per tonne for soya beans on the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange. Gwete, however noted that soya bean production comes with its own challenges.

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“Soya beans are a real money spinner but they are capital intensive. The crop requires more water than maize and other cash crops such as cotton and the chemicals needed for spraying are quite expensive,” he noted. “You must be prepared financially before you venture into it.” Edmore Ndlovu, a resettled farmer along Airport Road also experimented with the crop this season under a contract farming arrangement.

“The seed is very expensive even though the returns are promising. A local company from Harare contracted me and other farmers to produce soya beans. We are hopeful but farmers have been disappointed before.” He called on the government to introduce clear regulations to protect farmers entering contract farming agreements.

“There is growing interest among investors in soya bean production which is positive. But we need a proper regulatory framework that ensures farmers fully understand contract terms and are protected from unfair practices.”

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