Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
Government has called upon the private sector to complement its efforts of revitalising the agriculture sector by contracting farmers to produce raw materials for their industries, rather than depending on imports.

This was said by Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Douglas Karoro at a barley field day at Resurge Farm in Selous.

The farm belongs to barley producer Mr Percival Muzike, who is contracted by giant beverages manufacturer Delta Corporation.

Deputy Minister Karoro said through contracting farmers, the private sector will ease pressure on foreign currency for importing raw materials, and also contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030 of an upper-middle income economy.

“I call upon the private sector to walk side by side with Government as you have an important role to play in the realisation of these objectives (Vision 2030),” he said.

“There is no question that the agricultural sector is the most significant prime mover of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.

“Since the last decade, small-holder farmers have faced numerous problems, including decelerating productivity, poor growth and widening disparities in farm incomes.

“With proper skills, commitment and partnership, our indigenous farmers can succeed and stand with the best.”

Agriculture provides over 60 percent of raw materials to the manufacturing sector, making their support to farmers critical.

Deputy Minister Karoro expressed concern that the country was food insecure despite having fertile land and abundant water sources.

He saluted Delta Corporation for the role it plays in the revitalisation of the agricultural sector.

“The company (Delta) contracts a substantial number of households in both sorghum and barley production as the corporation provides inputs and a market to farmers,” said Deputy Minister Karoro.

“This is a model which should be copied by other local companies rather than relying on importation of primary commodities from neighbouring countries.”

Deputy Minister Karoro said barley was malted at Kwekwe Malting Plant, which has capacity to process 40 000 tonnes of barley, of which 22 000 tonnes comes from the local market. Delta has since stopped importing barley, a development which eases pressure on the country’s balance of payments.

Deputy Minister Karoro said farmers achieved yields as high as nine tonnes per hectare in 2018, a sign that they were on a positive growth trajectory. Barley yields had gone down to about 2,6 tonnes per hectare.

Delta agricultural services general manager Ms Grace Sithole said the company required 34 000 tonnes of barley, 65 000 tonnes of maize, 13 000 tonnes of malting sorghum and 3 000 tonnes of eagle sorghum annually.

“Under the contract arrangements, farmers get seed, fertilisers and chemicals and of late, are getting generators to supplement electricity,” she said.

“Farmers are also provided with technical advice and the company makes a follow up from planting to harvesting to ensure farmers produce the required quality.”

Barley farmer Mr Muzike thanked Delta for the intervention which has improved productivity at his farm.