“We know we can’t find funding of research from government right now but I think sourcing from other avenues is possible”.

Kenneth Matimaire

MUTARE — The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) is seeking funding for agricultural research, which plays a pivotal role in the development of the agricultural sector.
ZCFU interim chairperson, Christopher Zinhara, said financial challenges had made it difficult for government to support agricultural research.
Zinhara said the union was therefore looking for funding to ensure development of agricultural research in the country.
“We know we can’t find funding of research from government right now but I think sourcing from other avenues is possible. It’s very possible to source funding from our very own people pulling our own resources to fund agricultural research and development,” Zinhara said.
Zinhara indicated that lack of research has adversely affected yields. The country’s maize production stands at an average of 800 kilogrammes per hectare against a potential of 18 tonnes per hectare.
He indicated that poor yields had low financial rewards, forcing many farmers to switch to other crops.
“These are the things we are trying to work on as ZCFU and see where the inefficiencies are coming from and address them so that our productivity rises. This will promote more maize farming because the low yields are a put off for many farmers,” he said.
Zinhara said decentralisation of institutions would also improve the flow of agri-business currently centralised in Harare.
“We also want to lobby for decentralisation and transformation of our institutions. Most of our institutions were designed for the extraction of Zimbabwe resources as opposed to value addition of our resources. Since independence most of our institutions are still the same.
“Decentralisation will also improve operations of companies while taking note of the concern that companies should be registered at provincial level. Why go to Harare to register a company? Why go to Harare to acquire an export license?” he questioned adding that they are moving to create alternative export markets.
[email protected]