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This development comes after farmers complained about incessant power cuts that are hampering curing.
In an interview yesterday, the acting managing director of the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), Mr Julian Chinembiri, assured tobacco farmers that they would get improved power supplies if they paid up 50 percent of their bills.
“In general, if tobacco farmers pay 50 percent of their bills, we will be able to improve power supplies within two weeks so that tobacco curing is not affected by power cuts.
“We can increase our power output by more than 100 megawatts as we need the money to carry out maintenance work.
“The money can also enable us to import power from DRC power company SNEL, which we owe millions of dollars,” he said.
Mr Chinembiri said the farmers could pay the balance in three months and also make use of the flexible stop-order facility.
Acting Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Wilfred Nhemwa said tobacco farmers had been affected by the incessant power cuts.
“Some farmers have started curing the crop and the quality of their crop has been affected by the power cuts,” he said.
Mr Nhemwa said the situation had been worsened by the prevailing fuel shortages which have hampered farming operations.
“Some farmers use generators for electricity but this has become unsustainable because diesel is in short supply and it has become very expensive,” he said.
Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said the power utility had come up with a plan to ensure that the winter cropping season was not affected by power cuts.
He urged the farmers to make payments based on the stop-order system.
“We understand that farmers get their payments periodically.
“Zesa has engaged both tobacco and winter wheat farmers and we have agreed on a stop order system under which farmers will pay off all the arrears at the point of selling,” he said.
The farming community clusters required up to 162 megawatts of electricity for successful agricultural activity in different areas.-The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter