Seed maize price hike riles farmers

Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
FARMERS’ organisations have expressed disappointment over the recent increase in seed maize prices saying this might affect production.
According to a survey, the price of a 10kg bag of seed, which cost between $21 and $24 last season, has risen to between $27,50 and $31.  A 25kg bag of long season variety now costs between $68 and $113 up from around $57 to $96 last season.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Wonder Chabikwa said the move by seed houses to increase prices was bad news to farmers ahead of the growing season.

“The increase comes as a shock to us as farmers. The seed houses didn’t engage us as stakeholders to let us know about the price hikes. This might also affect production as high prices may force farmers to purchase less seeds,” he said.

“As stakeholders we also deserve to know before prices are increased. We’re going to engage the seed houses to find out the reasons behind the move.”

Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union chief economist Prince Kuipa said the price increase will affect yields as most farmers are likely to struggle in buying the seed.

“Farmers had already set their budgets on the previous maize prices. The sudden changes will disrupt the budgets made by farmers,” he said.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for crops, Davis Marapira last week told farmers at the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union annual congress in Bulawayo that the government will now subsidise inputs at manufacturing stage instead of giving them out for free directly to selected farmers.

He said by subsidising the inputs, the government will ensure that all farmers benefit rather than the present scenario where some farmers complained that they were not benefiting from the free input schemes.