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WHEAT farmers have called on government to subsidise fertilisers and other operational costs if they are to remain viable and competitive against regional and international producers of the crop. The fertiliser prices of around US$34 per 50 kg bag were nearly three times more than the regional average of about US$10 per bag.
“We have a situation where the price of fertiliser in the country is around US$34 for a 50kg bag but the same bag is going for anything between US$7 and US$10 in countries such as Zambia and South Africa.
The price is not viable for us farmers and we feel that it makes the cost of production higher,” said Zim-China Wanjin Company general manager Lieutenant Colonel Freedom Tsodzai in an interview.
He contends that the high prices of inputs make it difficult for farmers to remain viable when they have to sell their produce at prices determined by the international market.
Lt Col Tsodzai said fertiliser, seed, electricity and raw water for irrigation were the major cost drivers that were deterring farmers from growing the crop.
Most farmers, he said, were finding it difficult to break even as costs often far outweigh what they realise after selling.
He said the cost of electricity at their Hunyani Farm in Chinhoyi accounted for the price of a tonne of wheat which at an average yield of four tonnes per hectare translates to about a quarter of what the farmer will make after selling.
Online Reporter