Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
The Commercial Sugarcane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFAZ) has urged Government to consider cane farming inputs allocation under the Command Agriculture programme to boost output and earn the country more foreign currency.

This comes at a time Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe is being criticised for allegedly frustrating resettled indigenous cane farmers by making it difficult for them to thrive in the capital intensive industry where the firm enjoys unfettered monopoly.

CSFAZ, which is the biggest representative body of indigenous cane farmers in the Lowveld, said it was imperative for Government to cushion them from high costs of inputs.

The association made the call as Government this week expressed commitment to solving issues affecting the smooth running of operations in the industry.

Addressing farmers and stakeholders recently, CSFAZ boss Mr Admore Hwarare said there was need for cane farmers association in the Lowveld to speak with one voice to end challenges afflicting the industry.

“We are gathered here as farmers to raise issues which we want to present to Government so that our operating environment improves going into the future,’’ he said.

“As you are aware, we have Division of Proceeds (DOP) issues, looming garnishing of farmers’ accounts by Zimra, high input costs that are killing farmers, absence of milling agreements between the farmers and the miller (Tongaat) and many other challenges that affect our operations.’’

Mr Hwarare said he was optimistic that the zanu-pf Government led by President Mnangagwa would continue to attend to challenges faced by farmers to make sugar cane farming more viable under the new dispensation.

Chiredzi West zanu-pf parliamentary candidate Cde Farai Musikavanhu, who also attended the meeting, said Government needed to break Tongaat’s monopoly in the sugar industry by allowing other investors to come on board when the 25 000 hectares to be irrigated with Tugwi-Mukosi Dam water were developed.

“Before the repealing of the Sugar Control Act of 1964, I think what requires urgency now is the need for Command Agriculture to be introduced in the sugar industry,” he said.

“Farmers will get inputs from Government and pay back after harvesting and this would address our cash flow challenges.”

Cde Musikavanhu, who is also a sugar cane farmer, accused the country’s sole sugar producer of having an agenda to stifle the growth of indigenous farmers.

“I do not have an agenda to fix Tongaat, but I hate the agenda of some black people (THZ management) of trying to sabotage the indigenous farmer so that he can look as if he failed to grow the crop,” he said.

“This is what I call cooperate corruption which they are practicing.’’

Cde Musikavanhu said Tongaat should revert to the provision of basic services like health, education and recreation facilities in Mkwasine Estates, which Government took over from the firm in 2006.

“Tongaat Hulett, if it is serious about being in Zimbabwe, it must not be allowed to walk away from assisting farmers in Mkwasine,” he said.

“It is not viable for us to talk about setting another competitor mill in Mkwasine because if a miller does not have his own land to grow sugarcane, the running costs would be high. They (Tongaat) must also look after the community which gives them 50 percent of out-grower farmers’ cane.”