adminHarare Bureau
THE next planting season is just around the corner and most farmers across the country will in the coming weeks begin preparations for the next farming season. Farmers are hoping the weather patterns in most parts of the country will be more favourable. And of course, they are hoping funding and inputs will be availed on time.
In the past few years, farm yields have been seriously compromised as a result of late disbursement of funds and inputs, and in some instances, the adverse weather patterns.
As such, the sector should get top priority from the next Government in terms of funding.
Zimbabwe requires $2 billion annually to achieve optimum yields. But the Government alone will not be able to provide financial support on that scale. It is therefore imperative that some mechanisms be put in place to encourage private investment.
The sector is the backbone of the economy. It is the biggest employer while the manufacturing sector depends heavily on farm produce. Notwithstanding other challenges besetting the economy, a well funded agricultural industry will ensure more jobs, reduction of food imports, food security and substantial fiscal savings. Arguably, the agricultural sector provides about 60 to 70 percent of the raw materials used in the manufacturing sector while almost a similar proportion of products from the manufacturing sector are in turn consumed in the agriculture sector. Therefore, a wide spectrum of issues needs to be looked at apart from the need to ensure adequate and timely availability of financial resources. Inputs need to be sourced well ahead of time while distribution should be done weeks before the rainy season.
“Firstly, the sector generates export earnings in excess of $800 million annually and these are largely free and unencumbered cashflows that have a direct positive impact not only the economy-wide liquidity levels, but equally the spending power of consumers in the economy,” economist Mr Brains Muchemwa of Oxlink Capital said.
“Secondly, Zimbabwe has always had challenges whenever food security is under threat due to the inadequacy of the fiscal space to accommodate food imports. Therefore a well supported agriculture sector creates huge fiscal savings and provides raw materials to mostly the agro-processors and other manufacturing industry sectors thereby reducing dependence on imports and in the process creating jobs.”
Online Reporter