25 SEPTEMBER 2009

EXECUTIVE NEWS

 The persecution of our farmers through the courts is of huge concern.   We are doing everything we can to try to persuade and plead with the powers that be that there should be a moratorium declared so that we can move forward instead of the continuation of the politically driven onslaught against us. In one district there was an early morning raid in which a farmer and eight of his workers were arrested and uplifted to the local police station and charged under the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act. Slowly the true picture evolved. It is alleged that the farmer was intending to put his cattle on the local show and the person whom his cattle beat at last year’s show allegedly used his wife’s influence through the CIO to arrange for the arrest of the workers to disable the competition for this year’s show! A meeting was held with senior police officers this week to seek their assistance when farmers are under threat and to desist from using the excuse that a crime is ‘political’ and therefore not dealt with. We were told that the police have been maintaining law and order as well as obeying the orders of the courts. However, this prompted us to provide evidence of numerous cases where farmers were granted the protection of the court but the police had refused to assist. We are encouraged by the continued visits to affected farms by the JOMIC team as well as the report back and good relationship and understanding which have been established. Although they are not offering immediate solutions we are confident that this paper trail which is being developed will eventually pay dividends. It is therefore extremely important that information on incidents and court cases continue to flow into the building.  Like many other Internet users we were fully under the impression that once we upgraded to satellite we would have a much improved and speedier connection. However, exactly the opposite is true and it has shown that the latency and contention ratio of the satellite Internet link is too slow. The systems currently being sold in Zimbabwe have been thoroughly overloaded, so much so that POTRAZ has stopped issuing more licences. We are currently in the process of finding a solution to the problem which has seriously affected our uploads onto the website and other communications. There are currently 3 CFU Calling bulletins on the website which we have removed because only a blank page has appeared. We are unable to repair this using the current installation and corrections will be uploaded from another location. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and delays in establishing the substantial website. Once the problems have been overcome we will endeavour to substantially improve the website.  For those still farming the fertiliser collection has started and any queries should be directed through Kuda Ndoro.  This week we welcomed Mr Louis Fick into the building, who has agreed to stand as an appointed Vice President, but this would only come into effect following the confirmation by Council when it meets early next month. He has already been put to work and we look forward to working with him. Today the team has gone through to Bulawayo to attend the SACFA AGM, where they will be making a presentation on our new proposals for compensation. It is important that all groups first buy into this proposal before we present it to Government as it is essential that we have a united front to enable us to move forward as quickly as possible. Although the document has not yet been formally presented to Council most of the councillors have had opportunity to have input into the document. There are a lot of people out there who are in dire straits and who need immediate financial assistance therefore we cannot afford to have compensation/restitution continue to be delayed indefinitely by one or two opposing individuals. The unity of farmers has never been more important.   The main core of our compensation proposal is an acknowledgment of debt by the Zimbabwean Government. It is therefore both urgent and essential that all farms are registered with the consortium. Just a reminder that CG Tracey’s book, “All For Nothing?” has been sold out. A reprint is being done and we hope to have more copies available for Christmas. However, we do have in stock copies of Eric Harrison’s book “Jambanja” as well as his worm farming manual.  Please make a note of our new telephone numbers at CFU, which are available when the lines are down due to power cuts – 04-2918178 and 04-2918179. Our doors are always open for you to come in for either an update or else to discuss your personal problems. 

COMMODITY UPDATE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DAIRY FARMERS (from the desk of Rob Van Vuuren) 

The Chipinge Dairy Forum got off to a good start and continues at Mutare and Mashonaland A this week.  Next week it moves to Matopos Research Station, Tuesday 29^th September, Sherwood Farm, Gweru on Wednesday 30^th September and Mashonaland B at Beatrice Country Club for the presentation and Tavistock Estate for the vaccinating demonstration. We thank Onderstepoort Biological Products, (OBP), Pretoria for sending Ian Louw up to Zimbabwe for the first part of this Forum and Willie Botha for the Matabeleland and Midlands leg of the forum.  \We also thank OBP for sponsoring and providing cattle counters for use in the Essential Vaccine Programme,  These are essential when the teams are vaccinating relatively large numbers of cattle in the small-scale and commercial areas. We thank those members who have attended the forum and gained invaluable information on vaccines, storage, transportation and administration of vaccines and urge members to attend the forum in your area.  Thanks to our members who have hosted the forum.

DATES AND VENUES FOR DAIRY FORUMS AND VACCINE DISTRIBUTION TO SMALL SCALE DAIRY CENTERS

• 21^st September Chipinge Dairy Forum Lyondell Farm 2 pm
• 22^nd September Rusitu Dairy area am part of pm (vaccination)
• 23^rd September Mutare Dairy Forum will be hosted by Gareth Barry at L’Amour Estate 9 am
• 23^rd September Tsonzo Dairy area pm (vaccination)
• 24^th September Sangano Dairy Area am (vaccination)
• 25^th September Mash A Dairy Forum Lonely Park 9 am
• 28^th September Umzingwane Dairy Area am/ pm vaccination
• 29^th September Bulawayo Dairy Forum Venue TBA 9 am
• 30^th September Gweru Dairy Forum Sherwood Farm 9 am
• 1^st October Mash B Dairy Forum Venue TBA 9 am
• 2^nd October Guruve am (vaccination) 

As we enter that period of the year, often referred to as “suicide months”, when blowing fuses takes second and not minutes or hours, I make a special appeal to members and non members to please be courteous to our staff and appreciate our working hours which are 08.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.30, Monday to Friday.  Emergencies are a different issue and will be dealt with promptly. 

FORAGE SEED

Coopers are the official agent in Zimbabwe for Afrigro Forage Seeds and are working around the clock to finalise documentation and permits for the initial consignment.  Initially Coopers will need payment up-front for orders and these should be available in Harare approximately two to three weeks later from date of payment. Please direct all your enquiries on your sorghum seed requirements to Petrus Erasmus, phone number 0912 349 464 or (04) 2912723 or e-mail [email protected]. We hope members and other livestock producers will support Coopers as they strive to provide another service to the livestock sector.

CATTLE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION 

CATTLE PRICES 

  ZIMBABWE CROP PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION (from the desk of Dr Clive Levy) New Manager – Mr Richard TaylorWe are very happy to introduce a new Crops Manager, who will start with the Association on 1 October 2009, and take up the position vacated by George Hutchison earlier in the year. Richard was born in Kabwe, Zambia, in the early 1960s, but has spent most of his life in Zimbabwe. His junior schooling was initially in Chipinge, but mainly at Bindura Primary School. His senior school years were split equally between Marondera and Vainona High Schools. After doing a fitter-and-turner apprenticeship at Trojan Nickel Mine, he obtained a general agricultural diploma from the Blackfordby Tobacco Training Institiute. Thus, he spent most of his formative years in several rural settings. His adult life has been devoted to agriculture – firstly, as a farm manager south of Marondera, but thereafter, on various coffee farms in the Chipinge area (including his own family’s farm, Buffel’s Drift). From 1994-2005, he was Managing Director at D.W. Scott’s Chipinge Farm, during which time he served as the local Coffee Growers’ Association representative. In 2003, he was elected the Farmers’ Association Chairman. As the land reform programme accelerated, Richard chose to leave Chipinge, and in 2005-06 run his own business in Msasa, Harare. A year later, however, he moved up with his family to Zambia, to take up the Managing Directorship of Agricomm Construction in Lusaka, from where he now comes. Thus, Richard joins the CFU Staff with a substantial background of practical farming. It is hoped that he will pass this knowledge on to other crops farmers, and thereby, revive the ZCPA. 

Barley Insurance

Barley farmers who have taken out insurance under this Scheme are reminded that adequate fire-guards MUST be cut around their lands to qualify for any claim for fire damage. 

Trading Prices Local 23 September 2009 (US$)

  South African Foreign Exchange (SAFEX) 25 September 2009

Source: South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS). 

ACE Trade Report for 25 September 2009 

Wholesale prices in selected countries in East Africa are supplied by (RATIN) the Regional Agricultural Trade Intelligence Network. Current prices are indicated below and are valid as at 24 September 2009. (N.B. Changes shown are calculated on the basis of today’s prices against those previously recorded, which may not necessarily be the previous days).  

Excerpts from the ZAMACE price report for 24 September 2009.  

 The following prices are also made available to us courtesy of SAFEX.  

 Exchange Rates – Median PricesMWK 19.39 = 1 ZAR             DownMWK 143.85 = 1 US$           DownZAR 7.44 = I US$     Up COMMENTS AND VIEWS  

Please let us know your comments and views on items contained within this issue or any other issues of CFU Calling by sending an email to us on [email protected]

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