14 AUGUST 2009

EXECUTIVE NEWS

This week we held the CFU Congress at Meikles Hotel on the 4^th and 5^th August 2009 and the event has been described as a resounding success by all who attended.  Much thanks goes to the CEO and staff who worked tirelessly to organise the great event. Probably the highlight of the event was the Posthumous Award of the Farming Oscar to the late “Bob” Vaughn Evans who was tragically taken away from us by such brutal means only weeks before he was due to be honoured with the award.  The Midlands Regional Chairman, Mr Graham Franceys received the award on behalf of the family. The callous, barbaric and unprovoked assault against our senior citizens continue this week with Mr Bill Colyn being severely injured when he was battered with a huge rock by a person who had broken into the old age home in Gweru.  He sustained a shattered arm and severe injuries to his head and is currently recovering in hospital. Whilst the attendees at Congress were enjoying the speeches at the opening night cocktail function Mr and Mrs Ian le Roux were tied up with wire and severely beaten and robbed in their home on their small farm just outside Banket.  They too are now in hospital recovering from severe lacerations, bruising and broken bones. Although most of the stolen property has been recovered the assailants got away.  We express our deepest sympathy to all those who have suffered in these recent events and urge all people to be vigilant. No arrests have yet been made in any of the murder or assault cases. At the well attended Congress we saw the handing over of the baton of the Presidency from outgoing President Trevor Gifford to the newly elected President Deon Theron.  Mr Charles Taffs was formally elected to continue to serve another term as Vice President after serving for six months as an appointed Vice President. During the inauguration of the new team gratitude was shown towards the tremendous work that President Trevor Gifford had carried out over the past two very difficult years.  The current workload has shown the absolute necessity for the position of a second Vice President to be urgently filled. There is also a need to fill the vacant Council seats.   Mr Barry Lenton was appointed to continue his position in Mashonaland West South constituency and Mr Louis Fick has recently been elected to fill the vacant Mashonaland West North position.  Outstanding are councillors for the Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South constituencies which have to be filled as a matter of urgency. The success of the Congress was no doubt due to the incredible sponsorship of the European Union and a number of other major contributors who cannot be thanked enough.  The Guest Speaker at the opening ceremony was the European Commission Ambassador Xavier Marchal who expressed the dire need for the land reform programme and the subsequent chaos to be brought to an immediate end in order that Zimbabwe can swiftly become a sustainable food producing nation again.  He indicated that there was a huge amount of finance available to kick-start the economy and agriculture but that nothing would be released without the return to the rule of good law, good governance and property rights are respected. Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara was our main speaker at the Open Session where he delivered an impassioned plea to the other members of the Unity Government to work together to stop the continued violence and disruptions on farms as well as a stop to the prosecution of farmers. It was very clear in his speech that he thoroughly understood the problems which we were currently experiencing, but expressed the frustration that clearly he was not in charge and he was personally unable to bring about the moratorium on farm invasions and halt the prosecutions.  He said that Zimbabwe had no Government from 27 June 2008 until 11 February 2009 therefore any offer letters issued during that time are invalid.  He also stated that any offer letters issued subsequent to the formation of the government are also invalid in terms of the Global Political Agreement. One area where we disagreed with him in his (unwritten) speech was the part of the history lesson in which he declared that we owned 80% of the land in Zimbabwe.  He further commented that the Government now owned over 80% of the land so the Land Reform Programmme should stop.  He pointed out that there was no production on the Government owned 80% which is now in the hands of beneficiaries and that the land was being used as a political tool rather than for genuine agricultural use to feed Zimbabwe.  The facts of land distribution are reflected below. 

AGRICULTURE LAND DISTRIBUTION IN ZIMBABWE IN 1,000ha UNITS BY SECTOR AND NATURAL REGION AS AT 1996

SOURCE:           Land Tenure Commission 

REPORT:           Utete Land Commission 

Farmers may remember the CFU National Survey of the Land Reform Programme which we started in 2007. This was in order for us to gather correct information in order to build up a credible picture of land ownership (both past and present) in Zimbabwe.  This exercise still continues so if you have not completed the forms please do so and return them to us.  Although the responses have not covered every farm in Zimbabwe we have been using other means to obtain correct information. However, the number one prize for us would be to receive responses to cover all 7,000 or so properties to ensure absolute transparency of the compiled information. This constant distorted rhetoric about our alleged ownership of most of Zimbabwe needs to be addressed and we shall endeavour to do this through our new website – www.cfuzim.org – which was opened this week. Please note that the site is divided into two sections. The first is available to everyone but the second can only be entered by paid up (or honorary) members by inserting their user name and password.  These will be forwarded to members next week to allow you access to the larger section and for the interactive section.  Please note that the site is currently under construction and will be continually added to. Please bear with us during this period of construction. We are open to all suggestions and useful criticism because, after all, it is your site, which should be used to both your best advantage and to put out as much correct information as possible about agriculture in Zimbabwe.   In order to assist with the cost of the website we have opened it up for permanent advertisements from larger companies as well. There will also be an events calendar to advertise meetings, field days, shows etc, which we encourage you to use.  The Congress reports and speeches, which make very interesting reading, will all be available on the website soon. These include an encouraging update of the world agricultural situation given by IFAP President Ajay Vashee from Zambia. A taped comprehensive opinion on Zimbabwe financial situation by Professor Hanke of America was shown and a financial highlight talk was given by Mr R Makwata of Tetrad.  There were addresses from the leaders of other agricultural unions, JAG and SACAU by President Doug Taylor-Freeme.  In all the discussions the main points which kept on coming up were the dire need for the situation on the farms to be speedily resolved through the implementation of a moratorium so that farmers can get on with their business in confidence.  Furthermore unless this was achieved there could not possibly be any finance made available for the coming season due to lack of confidence by both the investors and the farming community. This was particularly highlighted during question time by visiting members of the Boland Kamerade Angus Society of Stellenbosch who have very kindly donated thousands of embryos and straws of semen to resuscitate the beef industry in Zimbabwe.  They wanted to know whether their benevolent gesture would be worthwhile under the current adverse situation.   As indicated in our earlier correspondence, the next grant for fertilizer from the European Union is due to be released shortly.  This fertiliser is available to all current paid up members of the Union, who are willing to put in some food crops in the coming season.  The available fertiliser is Compound D (7:14:7) and AN (34.5%N). Considering that the amount of fertiliser is limited there will be some rationing to the amounts the individual will have originally applied for.  Of importance is that those who anticipate to participate should start mobilising resources for payment of the fertiliser.  At present a final price payable by the farmer is still under consideration, but we can point out that the price will be well below the current market price.
Those wishing to participate should send the following details before 21 August 2009 as any requirements received beyond this date will not be considered
 

• Farm Name
• Trading Name
• Crops to be grown
• Quantity and type of fertiliser required: Compound D and AN (tons)
   

Contact Details; telephone, email, fax, address to Kudakwashe Ndoro on [email protected] Just a reminder that we have received notice from the General Manager of the Harare Agricultural Society, Mr Les Mallett that the 99^th Harare Show will be held from 24^th to 29^th August 2009.  He informs us that the 24^th and 25^th August 2009 will be designated as “Farmers’ Days” and entry to registered/licence farmers will be free on production of a valid Farmers Licence.  Free entry will be limited to 2 (two) individuals per Farmers Licence at Gate 3 only. It has been rumoured that wages for domestics has been significantly increased but this is purely a rumour as far as we can ascertain.  We will notify you as soon as there has been any decision made.  Farm wages have remained the same with the guidelines which were sent out late last week. Below is an interesting graph from the Tetrad report:   

                      
Remember our doors are always open and we need to reverse the above trend.  

COMMODITY UPDATE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DAIRY FARMERS (from the desk of Rob Van Vuuren) AJS Kirk and Rob Van Vuuren attended the 5^th ESADA Conference in Johannesburg last week.  As with most of these conferences, they are informative, but the real benefit is the contacts that are established. ESADA stands for the East and Southern Africa Dairy Association that was formed about five years ago and there are currently eight member states.  This organisation is well placed to make a difference in the dairy industry in Africa but needs to enhance its position through reliable funding. While in South Africa Rob Van Vuuren had the vaccine vehicles modified for the fridge/deepfreeze that will be used to transport vaccines. STABEX UPDATEThe first batch of OBP vaccines have arrived in Harare.  The order from Pfizer for accessories such as syringes is still awaited but is expected shortly.   There is a Livestock Liaison Committee Meeting today to finalise the documentation and distribution programme that is going to be implemented.   WE REQUEST LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS TO PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE PUT IN PLACE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES TO ENSURE THAT WE CONFIRM TO EU STANDARDS.   We will let producers know as soon as possible when the vaccines will be available. CATTLE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION Should you have experienced stock theft, please contact [email protected]  to obtain a report form as we will be working closely with the Business Against Stock Theft Forum.  CATTLE PRICESAs at 14 August 2009 the following prices were available:Economy                      US$ per kg live – 1.09Commercial                   US$ per kg live – 1.19Weaner Steers               US$ per kg live – 0.97 CROPS (from the desk of Dr Clive Levy) 

Trading Prices

 Local  13 August 2009  (US$)

South African Foreign Exchange (SAFEX) 14 August 2009

Source: South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS). 

COMMENTS AND VIEWS  Please let us know your comments and views on items contained within this issue or any other issues of CFU Calling by sending an email to us on [email protected]

Disclaimer: This email and files transmitted with it contain confidential and privileged information and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please — do not read, disseminate, distribute, copy or take action in reliance on this email and- delete it immediately and arrange for the deletion thereof on your server, and- notify the administrator immediately. Any unauthorised, use duplication or interception of this e-mail or any files transmitted with it is expressly and strictly prohibited. No representation, guarantee or undertaking (expressed or implied) is made or given- As to the confidentiality or security of the e-mail system’ or as to the accuracy of the information in this email and any files transmitted with it is virus-free. No responsibility or liability is accepted for: the proper, complete transmission of the information contained in this email or any files transmitted with it or any delay in its receipt; or rising from or as a result of the use of or reliance on the content of this email or any files transmitted with it. Any views expressed in this email or any files transmitted with it are not necessarily the views of the Commercial Farmers’ Union. Queries regarding this email or any files transmitted with it should be directed to [email protected]. This disclaimer forms part of the content of this e-mail for purposes of section 11 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2002 (Act No. 25 of 2002).