Agric puts its best foot forward
March 5, 2018 8:49 AM
Source: Agric puts its best foot forward | The Sunday Mail
In his inaugural speech on November 24, 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa
said Zimbabwe’s economic turnaround would be hinged on agriculture.
Like all other ministries, Air Chief Marshal (Retired) Perrence Shiri, the
Agriculture Minister, and his team were tasked to come up with a 100-day
action plan to reverse stagnation in the sector.
As the 100 days have come full circle, The Sunday Mail Society looks at
some of the changes made in agriculture so far.
Tenure
The land question has been a contentious issue since Government embarked
on the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme in 2000.
No one disputes the necessity of remedying tenure patterns after
dispossession of the majority by a few, white settlers.
Problems arose on matters of security of tenure of resettled indigenous
people, unlawful farm occupations and compensation to white former farmers
for developments made on land they once held.
The new Government has tackled these issues head on.
First, the President revealed Government’s plans to compensate white
formers farmers. Then he proceeded to extend lease agreements to white
farmers from five years to 99 years.
The State has clamped down on illegal farm occupations, and a land audit
to end multiple farm ownership, among other objectives, has started with
final reports from all 10 provinces expected soon.
The issue of compensation had strained relations between Government and
external financiers. As such, experts believe the changes will help open
lines of credit.
The refocused land audit is expected to bring order and end corruption in
land tenure issues.
Given that most of these issues had remained unsolved for years,
Government can only be credited for responding to them in a matter of
months.
Funding
One of the major drawbacks of agriculture over the years has been funding.
That is why when Government successfully negotiated with the banking
sector to have 99-year leases bankable, it was commended for its
breakthrough.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers’ Association Trust president Depinah
Nkomo said farmers, particularly women, were happy with the development.
“We want support from Government and the banks,” she said.
“Banks used to give long-term loans to former farmers but to us new
farmers of land reform programme, we were being treated badly so we
appreciate the Government for taking this initiative.”
Government’s Command Agriculture programme, which provides structured
loans to farmers was already in effect when the new Government came in;
and seeing as President Mnangagwa and Minister Shiri were its architects
under the old regime, it was to be expected that the game-changing scheme
would be continued.
The 2018 National Budget was also refreshing in terms of financing
agriculture. Of course, more can still be done in terms of unlocking
financing for this key economic sector.
Mechanisation, irrigation
Modern agriculture is premised on mechanisation, technology and
irrigation.
Rolling this out at a national level will take more than 100 days anywhere
in the world, but Government has hit the ground running in terms of
seeking partnerships to finance irrigation schemes and supply of
equipment.
For many farmers, the concern remains transparency in access to machinery.
Ms Nkomo says the “big boys” usually get preferential treatment and yet it
is ordinary farmers who are most in need of machinery and equipment.
“There is still segregation when it comes to distribution of equipment and
the benefactors are not real farmers,” she says.
“History teaches us that these so-called farmers do not pay back for the
equipment they get and this puts pressure on Government.
“Presidential inputs are being distributed by headmen and councillors and
there is a lot of corruption there.”
Production costs
High costs of production impede the viability of the sector and the
competitiveness of produce on markets.
“The cost of production has not been adequately dealt with,” says Mr
Wonder Chabikwa, president of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union. “In
fact farmers haven’t felt anything positive on input costs especially
agrochemicals and fertilisers which skyrocketed at the beginning of the
season.”
Due to shortage of foreign currency and speculation, prices of most inputs
almost doubled and some inputs became scarce.
Also, the cost of electricity and water, farmers say, is something the
State should look at if Zimbabwe wants to build an internationally
competitive agriculture sector.
“A holistic approach which looks at everything from infrastructure, the
policies themselves, value addition and access to markets will sure start
to make things ticking,” says agronomist Mr Benard Rwizi.
“The Government has already started doing some of the things and they
should continue to build on that beyond the 100 days.”
Source: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/agric-puts-its-best-foot-forward/
Original: http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/agric-puts-its-best-foot-forward/