MASHONALAND WEST NORTH
REPORT TO CONGRESS 2009
Land – Seven farmers being prosecuted in Chinhoyi courts. Most of these farmers have interferences on their farms, making production either impossible or near impossible. In Chinhoyi/Banket five farmers are farming without any problems. Legal – Farmers through their lawyers are trying to delay proceedings with the hope for a solution. Legal fees charged by lawyers becoming a huge burden to farmers. Finance – Finance from the banks – short term and at high interest rates not viable for agriculture. Tobacco companies seem to have a reasonable scheme going for their growers. Inputs – Inputs are available but at a cost to determine the affordability of inputs in this market is very difficult with product prices not stable and a tendency to be on the lower side, making cash flow planning very difficult. General – Farmers find themselves in different groups, not farming (compensation), on farm not farming, partially farming and those farming to the full. They are all in desperate need of direction and stability for the future. Farmers efforts to maintain or improve their situations need to be coordinated and not individuals acting on their own. In our district we need to have a close coordinated working relationship with CFU heads. CFU – Thank you to President Trevor Gifford and his team for a hard year’s work. Thank you for taking calls any time of the day or night.
Louis Fick(Chairman)23 July 2009