Andrew
Online Reporter
PRIVATE sector investment in local agriculture continues to rise, as it accounted for 63 percent of the country’s wheat output last year.
Contract farming contributed 158 000 tonnes of the 250 000 tonnes of wheat in the 2020/2021 season.
The Food Crop Contactors Association (FCCA) chairperson, Mr Graeme Murdoch, said the private sector-funded crop “was considered the largest contributor to what was a very good wheat crop”.
“Through agriculture funding in Zimbabwe, agricultural production has improved,” he added.
Currently, 16 contractors in grains, oilseeds and horticulture are in compliance with the Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA)’s contract farming regulations.
AMA’s chief executive officer Mr Clever Isaya said: “The Authority applauds FCCA’s efforts to increase the area under production for various crops in the country. In the short period they have been in existence, they have done a great job in complementing Government’s efforts to ensure food security and self-sufficiency in line with the Agriculture and Food Systems (Transformation) Strategy.
“Part of our efforts this year are targeted at promoting contract farming and encouraging private sector investment in agriculture.”
Registration of contractors with AMA is in line with Statutory Instrument 140 of 2013.
Online Reporter