Mr Chabikwa
Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Farmers have appealed to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to consider revising tariffs as well as allocating enough water to irrigate at least one hectare for free, in order to boost agricultural production.
Farmers also complained that Zinwa was collecting revenue when it was not providing adequate services in the farming areas.
These issues were raised at the Farmers’ Stakeholder Conference organised by Zinwa in Harare yester- day.
Most farmers said Zimbabwe’s economy was agro-based and there was need for stakeholders’ co-operation to boost production.
Farmers’ Unions Joint Presidency chairman Mr Stancilous Goredema said the agriculture sector had potential to boost the economy, but farmers were failing to improve productivity due to high irrigation costs.
“High water charges have resulted in the decline of the irrigated land annually and it is undermining Government’s initiatives to boost agricultural production, especially in the horticulture sector,” he said.
“Currently, local horticulture products are very expensive on the market due to the high cost of production. We are failing to compete with imports because our production costs are high,” he said.
“We therefore ask Zinwa to find ways to rebuild its image with farmers. Zinwa should reconsider lowering the cost of water for the agriculture sector because it is the major economic driver,” he said.
Mr Goredema said the costs of irrigating a hectare of wheat was $450 up to the harvesting period, which was expensive.
“There is need to continually review these legislative instruments especially with the advent of climate change.
“Adequate mitigatory measures must be adopted so that farmers are incentivised to produce,” he said.
Mr Goredema complained that Zinwa was relying on estimates for water charges and this was disadvantaging farmers.
The farmers also raised concern that Zinwa audited financial results were not available, but the chief executive, Dr Jefter Sakupwanya, said the figures could be obtained on request.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said there was no dam maintenance being done by Zinwa in farming areas.
“We know how to produce crops. We are complaining of high charges. Zinwa is charging us high tariffs, but practically there is no maintenance on the ground. We have trees growing on the dam walls, but Zinwa is charging high charges yet they are not delivering services.
Zinwa board member Mrs Betty Biri said Zinwa used scientific ways to come up with charges.
“Farmers should increase yields if agriculture is to be viable. Water is not the only component in crop production. Farmers should put in place good agronomic practices and apply adequate fertilisers to achieve high yields,” she said.