adminout what is being done to improve production and address challenges bedevilling the sectorEC: Minister Made, what is the current state of agriculture?
JM: There are a number of issues that must be put into context. It is very fundamental to note that we are in an inclusive Government. To be frank with you, the partners in this Government see the agriculture sector differently. The land reform parcelled out land to the majority and obviously this did not go down well with our partners in the inclusive Government.
When we undertook the land reform programme in 2000, we had illegal sanctions imposed on the country and that has had an adverse effect on production. Our people need to clearly understand the impact of the sanctions. For the past decade we have been working under very harsh economic conditions and that has negatively affected agricultural production.
EC: What has been the effect of the divergent viewpoints in the inclusive Government and the existing sanctions on production?
JM: Everything the farmers are dealing with requires cash upfront, be it inputs or daily farm operations. Farmers do not have ready cash and cannot borrow from the banks that are offering short-term loans with high interest rates. Farmers struggle to build infrastructure. This has heavily affected their performance.
There has not been viable financial assistance to farmers since 2000 except for the intervention of Government itself in the form of mechanisation to support agriculture.
All that is in place are short-term loans with high interest rates that are not viable for sector. Our farmers are struggling with capital to invest in irrigation and livestock production but they have actually been able to maintain meaningful levels of production.
Despite these problems our farmers have done fairly well. We should give credit to small-scale A1 and A2 farmers. For the past two seasons we are close to realising the 500 000 tonnes strategic grain reserve and the bulk is coming from rural and A1 farmers.
Zimbabwe used to import maize seed but I want to commend our farmers who are now producing in excess of the national requirement. Now we are holding on to 84 000 tonnes of maize seed.
EC: Every year farmers complain about delays and non-payment of grain sold to the GMB. What do you think should be done to tackle this problem?
JM: It is unacceptable that farmers who produce under harsh conditions and deliver their grain to the GMB do not get their money on time.
The bulk of farmers are A1 and A2 farmers. Whatever our differences in Government, it is unacceptable not to pay A1 and A2 farmers for their efforts. We have to pay the farmer so that he is able to go back to the land.
EC: How much money does GMB owe farmers?
JM: The GMB owes our farmers US$35 million. Already we have delivered food to deficit areas but the farmers are still to be paid. Service providers want to be paid and children sent to school. Zesa is disconnecting electricity on farms and banks want their money from the unpaid farmer. I am happy that a number of private companies have forwarded their proposals for agro-bills and some of them are coming from major food processors. We should establish an agriculture fund to address the issue of short, medium and long-term loan facilities.
EC: Have we paid the inputs we have been importing?
JM: We still owe Malawi for inputs delivered for the past two or three seasons. It is in excess of US$30 million. We also owe other private companies that assisted with inputs and those are knocking on our doors seeking payment.
EC: Recently you ordered the GMB to give preference to A1 and small scale farmers when issuing fertilisers? What will happen to A2 farmers?
JM: Indeed we want to give priority to communal farmers and A1. It of course appears very unfair to A2 farmers as they have to buy the commodity elsewhere when Government is holding on to their US$35 million.
We want GMB to ensure equity in selling fertilisers. From now onwards priority will be given to those farmers who want a bag or two of fertilisers although A2 farmers can still buy if resources permit. It becomes a bone of contention if a poor farmer waits in a queue for a bag while A2 farmers drive off in a truck full of fertilisers. We want to ensure equal distribution.
EC: There have been reports that GMB officials are abusing the inputs?
JM: The context of misappropriation must be properly understood. I am satisfied that the GMB and its board stand directed to deal with the matter and the board should deal accordingly with anyone found on the wrong side of the law.
EC: What will happen to officials found guilty of abusing the inputs?
JM: I have tasked GMB officials to do a follow up on all those who bought inputs to ascertain the actual amount they got. If anyone collected the inputs and is not farming, the culprit will be brought to book.
EC: Minister, are you generally happy with the performance of agriculture?
JM: The performance of agriculture is measured by the performance of individual farmers, measured by production of food for family consumption and surplus to sell. Maize farmers sadly always get paid very late yet farmers who produce tobacco, cotton, sugarcane and even poultry and the dairy sector, while also struggling, get their money on the spot. The delay in payment also affects farm workers as they are like any other workers who require their salaries for work done.
EC: Why is it that the problem of delayed payment seems to affect grain farmers more than those producing cash crops?
JM: On cash crops, companies, government and marketing institutions have come together on those crops. We should find a similar formula for the grain crops. Cash crops have demonstrated that the model is effective.
EC: How about the livestock sector?
JM: We have been able to hold the national herd at 5,2 million. Our main challenge remains that of low off take, disease control and this has adversely impacted on productivity. We are still battling with Anthrax, Foot and Mouth and tick-borne diseases. Again liquidity challenges mean we cannot reach our production potential.
EC: The dairy sector is key in livestock production. How is it performing?
JM: It is performing far below capacity. We are producing below 50 million litres of milk per year yet the nation requires about 95 million litres. To boost production we have given some private companies authority to import dairy breeding stock. For both beef and dairy there is room to improve the calving rate. We will be considering importing the breeding stock. We also have room to expand poultry and piggery sectors.
EC: Are we still importing cattle for slaughter from Botswana?
JM: Yes, and this was not a once off deal. This is going to continue for two years. By importing cattle from Botswana, we are giving the Cold Storage Company an opportunity to resuscitate operations. We are also giving them the chance to supply bone and blood meal to stock feed manufacturers and this will result in employment creation.
EC: Anything to talk about in the coffee and tea sectors?
JM: Yes, we need to resuscitate the industry, which is under performing. Farmers have adequate knowledge and only require medium to long term loans.
EC: The country has been experiencing consecutive droughts and unreliable rainfall patterns. What should be done to reduce effects of climate change?
JM: Irrigation is the direction we should go. In cases of dry spells farmers should be able to supplement with irrigation. We have irrigation projects that require billions of dollars and it is something else when you finance that at the level of US$11 million.
Given the problem of climate change demonstrated by late rains we should now focus on irrigation.
We now have to resuscitate irrigation and this requires adequate funding. Zimbabwe has the potential to irrigate between 2 million and 2,5 million hectares of land yet only 200 000 hectares is under irrigation.
EC: What should be done to reach the potential?
JM: There is need to finance the energy sector, water development and irrigation development. Unfortunately the majority of our farmers have been switched off power due to non-payment.
It is unfair that Zesa is switching off farmers yet we are in the tobacco-curing season. This is an unfortunate situation. Farmers cannot rely on generators. These people cannot pay electricity bills because they are the same farmers we also owe money through the GMB.
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