Lack of inputs hampers agric season preparations

the Meteorological Services Department said would start mid-November.
Cotton growers are yet to get inputs from contractors as they are still registering.
An Agritex official said some farmers were failing to access inputs. The official said by now, farmers should be buying seed, fertiliser and chemicals and completing land preparations to take advantage of the early rains.
“A number of farmers can not secure inputs, while most A2 farmers cannot secure funds from banks as most of them are indebted to the institutions,” he said.
Some farmers do not have collateral, which is required by banks while the banks are offering short-term loans, which are repayable within 90 days. According to Agritex, this money is expensive and not conducive for agriculture.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said while some farmers had started preparing for the farming season, the bulk were still waiting for Government assistance.
“The season looks gloomy and so far only those well established farmers are preparing land and buying inputs,” he said. “Those who depend on hiring farming equipment and implements will have to wait longer before they can resume land preparations.”
Mr Chabikwa urged Government to subsidise farmers. He said farmers’ unions should be helping members with the signing of contracts so that farmers do not enter into agreements without fully understanding the obligations.
SeedCo managing director Mr Denias Zaranyika said the low uptake was affecting seed houses, which are still owed money by Government. “We have 64 000 tonnes of seed in stock. However, we have not been able to pay seed producers who have been holding on to their produce,” he said. Seed houses introduced input credit schemes last season, but the facility was scrapped this year since seed houses are still owed by agro-dealers.
Fertiliser companies said they were ready for the season, but want Government to allow them to export to raise money to increase production. Fertiliser industry spokesperson and Chemplex Corporation Limited chief executive Mr Misheck Kachere said exporting would enable the industry to expand.
Bankers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr George Guvamatanga said banks were keen to support agriculture.
But they were concerned with the high cases or defaulters. He said the banking sector was owed US$90 million by farmers. “Banks have loaned US$1 billion to the agriculture sector,” said Mr Guvamatanga
“We want to support agriculture, but farmers should learn to pay back loans.”
The Grain Marketing Board said it would raise US$22,5 million to finance the 2012/13 farming season through the disposal of part of the Strategic Grain Reserve.