Much has been said, discussed and debated about the challenges afflicting the agricultural sector, the backbone of this country’s economy, but all needs to be done to ensure that the same old story of poor harvests is not replicated in the impending 2016/17 agricultural season.
With a few weeks to go before land preparations and other programmes linked to the summer-cropping season begin in earnest, timeous interventions are critical while all should be done to ensure minimal operational challenges in the farming sector. Agriculture has largely been affected by irregular rainfall patterns over the last few years and the teething problems resulting from the land reform programme. Efforts have been made to ensure the latter is redressed effectively.
Although it is without doubt that droughts have failed the sector, it is only progressive to also acknowledge that poor preparation and inadequate investment and attention to the sector have resulted in dire consequences that have had a ripple effect in the entire economy.
Such challenges as inadequate funding, poor producer prices, breach of contractual obligations, lack of training and insufficient extension services have combined to deal the sector a heavy blow. It is in this regard that the calls last week by the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union for increased and targeted funding, particularly for such crops as maize and wheat and other food crops should be heeded. Granted, the economy is facing liquidity challenges that have resulted in diminished funding for many programmes and projects, but banks and other financiers need to come up with finance facilities to reinvigorate the agricultural sector.
Timely planting and availability of inputs such as fertilisers and other chemicals will promote high yields. Last week, ZFU bemoaned the absence of such interventions.
“Our national average yield for make is 0,8 tonnes per hectare because the farmers cannot afford adequate inputs, many farmers that produce maize end up skimping on resources such as fertilisers as they do not have money,” said the ZFU economist Prince Kuipa.
Zimbabwe needs at least 1,2 million tonnes of maize annually, but the figure has been difficult to achieve over the last few years, resulting in the country having to fork out millions of dollars to import maize and yet it is within our means to produce more and even export.
It is critical at this juncture for stakeholders in the sector to hold an Indaba to identify challenges and solutions to bring the sector back to its feet. A frank assessment of the situation will result in the identification and implementation of effective mechanisms to bring back the glory to the country’s agricultural sector. History has it on record that Zimbabwe is richly endowed and can produce on behalf of other countries if it applies its mind to it.
Adequately resourcing farmers is the way to go. The tobacco sector bears testimony to this.
Banks have often viewed the agricultural sector as risky, understandably so in some instances, but it is about time they departed from textbook principles and focus more on the actual situation on the ground. They can come up with tailor-made lending facilities that will create a win-win situation between them and the farmers. The launch of agro-bills and other such instruments can raise adequate funds to ensure effective and efficient production systems while other productive sector facilities can do the trick.
Agriculture accounts for at least 65 percent of inputs required by the manufacturing sector hence if the former is adequately resourced, the latter can also operate at maximum capacity, hence the economy.
Many farmers, including A1 farmers, have migrated to tobacco because of the benefits of an assured market and generally good prices and yet the country needs to significantly increase output of maize, wheat and other food crops to ensure self-sufficiency, one of the pillars of the Zim-Asset. Training services and technical assistance is also critical, particularly in face of climate change, itself a phenomenon that presents challenges to farmers. They need assistance to navigate the new weather terrain and its attendant challenges such as diseases and pests that were previously easily dealt with.