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Fildah Gwati
GOVERNMENT’S recent decision to suspend duty on fertiliser imports has torched optimism for a fruitful season among farmers who believe the move will help reduce production costs and boost productivity.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube made the announcement during Tuesday’s media post-cabinet briefing.
Stakeholders in the agriculture industry have welcomed the decision with Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) president Dr Shadreck Makombe saying the suspension of duty on fertiliser would alleviate the financial burden on farmers and enhance their access to essential agricultural inputs to stimulate crop yields.
“As the duty suspension takes effect, farmers eagerly anticipate the positive impact it will have on the agriculture landscape and its potential to drive economic growth,” said Dr Makombe
“Suspension of duty on fertiliser will help lower the retail price of the commodity and make it more affordable for farmers to purchase and use. This can have a positive impact on agricultural productivity and potentially increase crop yields,’’Dr Makombe explained.
“It can also incentivise farmers to use more fertiliser on their crops. This in turn can lead to increased agricultural production and potentially improve food security in the country.
“Besides causing other broad economic effects, the suspension of duty on fertiliser will also contribute to overall economic growth and potentially attract investment into the fertiliser industry and related sectors, which will create employment opportunities,” observed Dr Makombe.
He commended the Government for the move saying it would allow many farmers to cultivate larger pieces of land because they can easily acquire the essential inputs at low prices.
“We appreciate the suspension of tax on fertiliser by the Government. This shows that its sensitive to the plight of farmers,” he said.
Government must, however, monitor the effectiveness of the move by checking the eventual prices in retail outlets to ensure farmers are not prejudiced of their perceived benefits,” said Dr Makombe.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Executive Director Mr Paul Zakariya chipped in saying there was need for serious monitoring of the impact of the duty suspension on fertiliser.
“It is important to compare fertiliser prices before and after the suspension of duty and how they relate to the adjustment that has been made by the Government in terms of the rematch that has been given to the importer and if there are no benefits, red flags must be raised in order to correct the issue,’’ Mr Zakariya added.
Online Reporter