ZFU hails Command Agric, decries high input prices

THE Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) has hailed the Government for considering its members for the Presidential Inputs Scheme amid an outcry over the prohibitive costs of farming inputs.

Speaking on the sidelines of ZFU national congress at the Showgrounds in Masvingo last week, the union’s president, Mr Abdul Nyathi, said the economy had made farming “very expensive” and this posed a threat to the 2019/20 season.

H,e however, praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa for living up to his promise of promoting farmers through Command Agriculture, which has opend the doors to a credit facility through four local banks.

He said ZFU was reaching the end of yet another five-year term but elections had been put on hold due to lack of resources.

“As things stand, we depend solely on Command Agriculture under which the Government is supporting farmers. Our members are part of this initiative and have started receiving the money from CBZ, Agribank, FBC and ZB Bank,” he said.

“Besides the Government initiative farmers were not prepared to start farming due to the prohibitive costs involved. It now costs between $300 and $1 000 to utilise one hectare.

“If it was not for the Command Agriculture, there was going to be a disaster for our members this season, as retailers want us to pay through our noses by overcharging on maize seed, fertilisers and chemicals.

“The costs are just unbearable when it comes to farming and draught power as our livestock have been affected by the present drought,” he said.

He said the irony of it is that ZFU members constituted the bulk of farmers who delivered their maize to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) at the end of the 2018/19 season.

“The country accounted for above one million tonnes of maize from local farmers of which 80 percent of the grain came from our members.

“This year, our farming preparations are already behind. As you can see, the sky is threatening and yet our . . . level of preparedness is at zero, save for the Command Agriculture whose beneficiaries have started receiving funding from the banks,” he said.

He said given that time was running out, it would be a miracle if members were abl to achieve 50 percent of the targeted land utilisation.

“In every province, our members who have been recommended by Agritex to benefit from the Command Agriculture and banks have started disbursing the funds for inputs.”.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF Youth League has embarked on a massive poultry project that has seen each of its 10 provinces receiving 10 000 broiler chicks in fulfilment of the league’s business agreement with the Communist Party of China’s youth wing, writes Wallace Ruzvidzo.

In an interview with The Herald, Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Pupurai Togarepi said a market for the project had already been identified in China. as the Youth League and the CPC’s youth wing entered a business agreement centred on community development.

He highlighted that the agreement with the CPC’s youth wing was reached when President Mnangagwa sent senior party members to China to explore business opportunities.

“The Youth League will be embarking on a chicken project which saw 10 000 chicks being given to every province and we have already sourced a market for them in China.

“The President sent senior members of the party to a study tour in China where, among other things, we explored business opportunities. It is through these discussions that the youth wing of the CPC and Zanu PF agreed to do business together targeted at community development. Our counterparts offered to buy chickens, vegetables, fruits and many other products,” he said.

Cde Togarepi said more chicks for the project will be sourced and given to provinces to meet the demand from China.

“Provinces received the chicks on Thursday and more will be sent in line with the President’s gesture for more chicks per province.

“The CPC youth also offered expertise in these areas so that we meet their huge demand. So we are now preparing our supply side as we envisage to start early 2020,” said Cde Togarepi.

In a separate development, youths allocated land by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement are expected to start planting in earnest with inputs currently being put together.

“We are ready to start utilising the land accorded to us. Resources are being put together for this season. It is our hope that we also get inputs from Smart Agriculture to start the ball rolling,” Cde Togarepi said.