Small holder farmers contribute 80% of maize production

August 28, 2014 

THE smallholder farmer in Zimbabwe has contributed 80% to the country’s maize production for the 2013/2014 season, a government official has said.

TARISAI MANDIZHA

Speaking at the second edition of the agro-business conference held on the sidelines of the 2014 Harare Agricultural Show yesterday, acting minister of Agriculture Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Olivia Muchena said the economy has developed downstream infrastructure for the beneficiation of agricultural products.

She said the smallholder sector remained the priority sector for government and the simple tool that could be used to reduce poverty.

“Overall, the smallholder sector contributed to maize production this season is about 80% compared to 20% of A2 and large-scale farmers.

“This season has also seen the number of cattle increasing from 5 241 000 to 5 368 000 and an increase in other livestock products,” Muchena said.

She said during the 2013/2014 agriculture season government put in place a crop and livestock input programme to support smallholder farmers.

The Presidential input programme supported 1,6 million households with inputs to stimulate production of key food and nutrition security crops.

The support resulted in production increase 82% in maize, 97% in sorghum, 123% in pale millet, 43% in finger millet as well as production of adequate food crops to meet the national requirements, she said.

She, however, said tobacco was exclusively grown by commercial farmers from 1547 tobacco farmers in 1980 to a total of 105 000 mainly small holder farmers and communal. This generated $684 million for largely small holder farmers and an estimated $800 million in exports.

Speaking at the same event, Acting President Joice Mujuru said government has been supporting smallholder farmers with key agriculture inputs since independence. Last season government unveiled a $160 million agriculture input support programme that supported over 1,6 million households to stimulate production.

“Following the implementation of this programme and coupled with good rains, the maize production for the year increased to slightly over 1,45 million tonnes from 798 000 tonnes obtained previously. While this phenomenal growth is commendable, it remains my fervent desire and considered view, that we are capable of producing more than our national requirement,” Mujuru said.

She, however, said government has put in place a programme to increase the national herd and to date the cattle herd increased in 2014 to 5,24 million from 5,16 million in 2013.

Mujuru said the national calving rate increased to 49% in 2013/2014 from 47% previously and the target is 80%.

She added that the day old chock production increased by 38% from 52 million in 2012 to 72 million in 2013 while the production of broiler day old chicks was 64,6 million making an increase of 17% and average monthly broiler meat production increased from 1,900 tonnes in 2012 to 2 600 tonnes in 2013.

Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe president Sam Malaba however encouraged farmers to honour their payment obligations for banks to continue working with farmers.

“All stakeholders have a role in catalysing agriculture value chain there is need for the government to put in place legislation which will both boost agricultural production and financing. This legislation should make sure that there are no loopholes in financing system. Importantly farmers are encouraged to honour their payments obligation,” Malaba said.