Chronicle Editor
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
THE country’s largest coffee and tea producer, Tanganda Tea Company, has urged Government to incentivise the growing of tea and coffee to boost exports.
The call comes at a time when many farmers in the Eastern Highlands are shunning the production of coffee and tea because of high costs involved.
Tanganda Tea Estates administration manager Mr Julius Guni said Government should take urgent measures and subsidise the growing of coffee and tea.
He said there was also need for exemption of tax when importing machinery used in the growing of coffee and tea.
“If urgent measures are not taken, coffee and tea growing will soon be history.
“We are calling on Government to consider investment incentives in this strategic area, as huge costs are involved in the production chain. “Farmers in this sector need to import machinery, an area which needs Government intervention. We pay heavy duties to import machinery and this makes this sector expensive to invest in,” he said.
Mr Guni said Government could generate more foreign currency if out-grower farmers were being subsidised.
He said the sector was suffering from stunted growth because of the limited support being extended to farmers.
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