$2bn a year needed to revive agricultural sector

in mobilising resources to improve food production and security.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of State in his Office, Flora Buka during the official opening of the 72nd

Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union annual congress yesterday, VP Nkomo said Zimbabwe needed more than $2 billion per year to revive the agricultural sector and improve food and livestock production.

The congress is being hosted by Matabeleland North Province at the Bulawayo Polytechnic’s School of Tourism and Hospitality and ends today.

“This congress comes at a time when we as Government are calling on farmers to promote land utilisation and productivity in order to enhance food security both at household and national level,” said VP Nkomo.

The congress, which is being attended by 600 members, is running under the theme, “Promoting livestock and small grains productivity for sustainable household food security and incomes”.

VP Nkomo said agriculture plays a pivotal role in the country’s economy and has the potential to significantly reduce poverty hence the need for the participation of all stakeholders.

“Your theme for this year’s congress recognises the Government policy thrust in agricultural production. As Government we envisage that Zimbabwe requires about $2.5 billion per annum if adequate financial support for grain and livestock production is to be rendered to our farmers.

“This support can only be achieved through joint efforts between the Government, private and public sectors as well as external partners because Government alone cannot achieve this. It is therefore incumbent upon all stakeholders, including farmers organisations such as ZFU to play their respective roles to mobilise the requisite resources to promote agricultural productivity,” said VP Nkomo.

He bemoaned the state of agricultural production in the country, which he said had taken a downward turn in recent years leaving the country unable to meet its national requirements in terms of grains and cereals.

“The country has not been meeting its national requirements particularly in maize and wheat leading to imports. The livestock sector was mainly driven by large scale commercial sector in the 1990s but this had changed significantly as most livestock is now in the small scale sector who own 90 percent of the cattle, 98 percent of goats and 80 percent of pigs,” said VP Nkomo.

“It is imperative then that we increase support in this sector and consider its commercialisation.”

He appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development to introduce programmes that support smallholder cattle farmers and the Ministry of Finance to increase financial support for livestock production as it does to crop production.

VP Nkomo said the country had not fully utilised irrigation facilities, which are lying idle despite the potential the sector has in transforming the economy.

“Southern parts of the country are susceptible to droughts and we should urgently make efforts to develop irrigation schemes in order to safeguard crop production,” he said.

VP Nkomo also encouraged farmers in dry areas to move from the traditional cash crops to small grains.

The Vice-President said the Government would continue supporting farmers in difficult times.

ZFU president Mr Silas Hungwe said the congress was meant to come up with strategies to encourage farmers to grow small grains for sustainability. “This congress will map the way forward on what needs to be done for farmers to start growing small grains and the main focus is also on Matabeleland region, which is good for livestock yet it is not getting enough attention,” he said.

In attendance were Ministers Dr Obert Mpofu of Mines and Mining Development and Environment and Natural Resources Management Francis Nhema.