Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has demonstrated strong performance despite challenges posed by the effects of the El Niño-induced drought last year.
This year, the authority is expecting increased production in all agriculture value chains due to good rains.
This came out today during the authority’s 9th annual general meeting in Harare. AMA vice board chair, Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere, representing board chair, Mrs Tariro Muchena, said the year under review saw the country experiencing the worst El Niño drought in 43 years.
“Despite the drought, AMA still managed to perform without recording a deficit and with the good rains this year, the authority is expecting increased production in all agriculture value chains,” he said.
“AMA is not a revenue-collecting entity, as has been said many times, that it is a levy collection agency, but was primarily created to improve people’s livelihoods.
“AMA’s mandate is to regulate for growth, and it measures its impact with the activities on the ground.”
Mr Hwengwere said the authority would be preoccupied with looking for value chain financing, cattle auctions and market linkages for village business units (VBUs).
AMA acting chief executive officer, Mr Jonathan Mukuruba, outlined the sectoral performance, saying cereal production declined 77 percent in the 2023/24 to 843 761 tonnes.
“Cotton production dropped from 90 084 273 kilogrammes in the 2022/23 season to 13 606 270 kg last year.
“Total value of cotton was US$3, 2 million and ZiG29, 8 million with drought and late payments affecting the sector,” said Mr Mukuruba.
On the other hand, 119 945 hectares were planted under wheat last year and 562 591 tonnes of the crop were achieved.
Under the livestock sector, 22 auctions were done, which saw 721 animals worth US$301 238 sold.
Under VBUs, 449 units were established, with 67 of them selling their produce realising sales of US$71 865.
Irrespective of the challenges last year, AMA managed a surplus of ZiG7,9 million, though its revenue shrank from ZiG88,1 million in 2023 to ZiG48,2 million last year, a result of cost containment measures.
Online Reporter