adminZimbabwe Agricultural Income and Employment Development Programme (Zim-AIED), Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development permanent secretary, Mr Ngoni Masoka said the ministry was still consulting stakeholders to come up with an enabling framework.
“Government has commissioned a study on contract farming’s best practices and working on the regulatory framework that will promote contract farming not only in paprika but across the board,” he said.
Mr Masoka said there was need to improve modalities of contract farming and ensure both the farmer and contractor benefit.
“We would want to see farmers benefiting from the arrangements. We have noticed that many farmers were entering into contractual agreements without adequate knowledge on the inputs and producer prices,” he said.
Mr Masoka said it was disturbing that contractors were giving farmers inputs at high costs and sometimes were told of the high costs of production and low producer prices at the end of the season.
“A farmer should enter into an agreement aware of the cost of inputs, producer prices and the package being offered by the contractor. This discourages side marketing,” he said.
Mr Masoka said the regulatory framework will also protect companies from side marketing.
“The investor will also be assured of recovering his costs,” he said.
Mr Masoka applauded contract farming for boosting production of high quality produce.
The international workshop which was attended by paprika farmers, contractors, non governmental organisations and international buyers from South Africa, Spain and India established that there were vast marketing opportunities for the commodity in South Africa. The Zimbabwean paprika was commended for its high quality.
South African buyer, Mr Craig Forbes said Zimbabwe is guaranteed of a market as long as farmers adhere to the international market requirements.
“South Africa has a huge demand of paprika. We require about 2000 tonnes of the commodity every year and we are failing to meet the demand.
“As long as farmers have a constant supply which is free from aflatoxins, they are guaranteed of a market,’’ he said.
Zim-AIED programme, is assisting local farmers in different parts of the country with technical advice to improve food security and increase household incomes of small scale farmers.
The organisation also links farmers with local, regional and international buyers, provides access to credit and offer trainings to farmers in different business aspects.
Online Reporter