Elita Chikwati-Senior Agriculture Reporter

Farmers have complained over the continuous increase in inputs prices which they said will affect viability and also affect the 2021/22 summer cropping season.

The farmers expressed concern that while the producer prices have remained the same, prices of inputs have been going up.

The price of ammonium nitrate in 2020 was $3 059 and now costs $3 800 per 50 kg bag. The price of compound D was pegged at $2 634 and now costs $2 850.

The prices of seed have also increased with 50 000 kennels bag costs between 8 800 and 13 000 while 25 kilogramme bags are ranging between $12 000 and $17 000.

The farmers said produce prices should also be constantly reviewed so they can match the increase in inputs prices.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union director, Mr Paul Zakariya said Farmers Union said the increase in input costs had affected viability.

“The pre-planting producer prices that were announced ahead of the just concluded season were confirmed as the producer prices when the marketing season commenced in May this year.

“Prices of inputs continued to skyrocket and yet there was no shift in producer prices. This clearly shows that value has been lost along the way. Markets for cotton and grains presented with some challenges by way of late payments. For cotton, some farmers are still waiting for the previous season’s payments.

“The resultant effect is that, on their own, farmers will not be able to go back into production and maintain or surpass the production levels of the just ended season,” he said.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Dr Shadreck Makombe said high input costs will affect us.

“Many farmers will find it difficult to go back to the land.as much as the season is going to be good in terms of rains exorbitant prices will affect production. We are imploring suppliers to be ethical and government to find ways of some form of inputs subsidies,” said.

Zimbabwe National Farmers Union vice president, Mr Edward Dune said the skyrocketing of inputs prices would affect agriculture transformation.

“It is so depressing to notice that production costs continue to skyrocket unchecked thereby distorting efforts being made to transform agriculture.

“The fortunate part of this whole equation is the advent of the Government facilitated National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS) through CBZ Agro Yield and the Presidential Inputs Scheme. There is evidence on the ground that our farmers are ready to go.

“As part of preparations for the coming season, markets should be more prepared both financially and logistically. Farmers, as business persons, produce in order to make money. In that regard, farmers must be honoured and respected,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Seed Association said seed distribution to farming areas started as early as June.

“Zimbabwe is a costly seed production environment given the prevailing economic conditions. Furthermore, there is declining customer purchasing power such that farmers depend on Government programmes or contract farming. If the economic environment in the country improves, inputs should become affordable to most farmers, said the association.