Farmers call for pro-agric Budget

Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
Farmers are expecting the 2018 National Budget to address challenges in the agricultural sector such as the shortage of machinery and equipment, high inputs costs and promotion of value addition for the sector to contribute meaningfully towards the revival of the economy.

Most farmers said agriculture was the backbone of the economy and if fully supported, could resuscitate the manufacturing industry, boost employment creation and exports. Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said farmers had always been calling for affordable inputs. She bemoaned the high prices of inputs, which she said were eroding farmers’ profits.

“We expect Government to channel more funds towards subsidising raw materials for inputs so that the inputs are subsidised at manufacturing level,” said Mrs Nkomo.

“This will enable all farmers to access affordable inputs. If inputs are affordable, our products will be competitive on the regional and international markets. We also expect Government to increase support in mechanisation. Smallholder farmers still lack adequate machinery for land preparation, irrigation and harvesting and this affects production and productivity. Government should ensure farmers have access to affordable machinery.” Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said Government should allocate 10 percent of the Budget to the agriculture sector.

“Farmers expect Government to resuscitate the agriculture industry and emphasis should be on modernising farm machinery and irrigation to improve productivity. We need medium to long-term loans. Seasonal loans should be lowered to at most four percent and to cater for both inputs and working capital as per Agricultural Finance Corporation,” he said.