Ban on imported fresh horticultural produce pays dividends

GOVERNMENT’S decision to ban imported fresh horticultural produce has started yielding positive results with improved productivity and competitiveness in the agricultural sector cascading to downstream industries.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Davis Marapira who is responsible for crop production and irrigation development said the move to suspend the importation of all perishable agricultural produce and cancellation of all existing import permits early this year had ramped up productivity at farms.

“The suspension of horticultural produce has gone a long way in improving farmers’ productivity. We are also seeing a lot of farmers delivering produce such as butternuts and tomatoes to the Schweppes canning plant in Norton and companies like Cairns are also getting produce from local farmers.

“Food manufacturing companies have improved their viability and income generation thus contributing to improved revenue collection by Government from both farmers and companies. It also improves viability to other downstream industries such as agricultural inputs companies as farmers will be having financial capacity to purchase,” said Dep Minister Marapira.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president, Mr Wonder Chabhikwa said the decision to ban horticultural produce was a noble idea but there was still a need to review rates being charged by service providers such as the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.

“What was happening is that we had unfair competition from an influx of horticultural produce coming from outside the country that eventually caused a glut on the market. We couldn’t compete with exports because our costs of production were too high.

“Farmers from neighboring countries are subjected to lower fuel prices as well as low electricity and water rates. It doesn’t make any sense to rely on imports especially on things we can produce on our own but much has to be done with regards to reducing our cost of production,” said Chabhikwa.

Umguza Lots irrigation schemes chairman Antony Kepha Dube said most farmers have taken advantage of the ban of fresh horticultural produce to increase their cropping areas.

“Most farmers have increased their areas to be cultivated under horticultural crops while others intend to take advantage of this. We are however, still waiting for Zesa and Zinwa to reduce their tariffs as per Government directive. Most of us have accumulated huge arrears because we are struggling to pay the exorbitant rates,” said Mr Dube.