Agric production to drop sharply
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/
October 26, 2012 in Business
ZIMBABWE’s agricultural production faces a costly slump next year as the
2012-2013 farming season lies in disarray due to failure by government to
disburse funds for the timeous purchase of inputs, Commercial Farmers’ Union
(CFU) president Charles Taffs told businessdigest this week.
Report by Gamma Mudarikiri
In an interview, Taffs said the cash-strapped government failed to
adequately fund agriculture in the past year while its debts to seed and
fertiliser companies continue to soar.
“Seed houses are owed significant amounts, principally by government and
this has a knock-on effect on their ability to support growers for the
coming season,” Taffs said.
He warned of an impending shortage of ammonium nitrate (AN) and other
nitrogenous fertilisers, but added that the challenge was being mitigated by
the importation of urea and other substitutes.
“However, this will push prices up and therefore affect viability of
farmers,” Taffs warned.
The shortage of AN locally is a direct result of the removal of electricity
subsidies to Sable Chemicals who are the manufacturers of the fertiliser,
resulting in significant scale-back of operations.
Taffs said a serious maize shortage is looming in 2013 owing to the droughts
in countries like Brazil and reduced production of grain in the United
States, which he said will push global maize prices up as demand for grain
rises.
“It is a huge disaster that will worsen the humanitarian situation in the
country as government will not sustain imports of maize at such high
prices,” he said.