Private sector urged to contract farmers

Business Reporter
THE private sector has been urged to take an active part in agriculture by supporting farmers to promote food security in the country.
Speaking at a food security and nutrition summit in Bulawayo last week, attended by farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) representative General Bhebhe said farmers did not need handouts but support to access resources.

“As farmers we are not crying for handouts but what we want is for the industrialists and the private sector as a whole to take part in agriculture which will encourage growth in our production,” said Bhebhe.

He said as farmers they did not want free inputs but capital investment, which would translate to increased access to affordable resource to ensure increased production and food security.

“We need the private sector to start contracting farmers as a way of supporting them, through such capital investment, farmers will have adequate access to primary resources and then they will increase production, which will bring about food security and Zimbabwe will gain back the status of being the breadbasket of the region,” he said.

Bhebhe said the industrialists and other players in the sector should be concerned about where the raw materials they use were coming from and take part to increase production

“Industrialists, millers and the whole private sector should be concerned about where that raw material which you are buying is coming from, do not touch what you did not invest in, if everyone has that mentality and you go back to support the farmer we will reduce imports and create jobs for locals,” he said.

Speaking at the same event the deputy minister of Agriculture responsible for Cropping, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Davis Marapira said in order to achieve food security all stakeholders should get involved and support farmers.

“The role of supporting farmers should not be left to government alone, it needs team work and all of us must get involved and implement policies which are meant for agriculture and we will achieve results,” he said.

Marapira encouraged the private sector to start contracting farmers in favourable regions and help in the development of irrigation schemes.