‘Zim’s quarter harvest lost due to poor storage facilities’

Senior Reporter
ABOUT 25 percent of the country’s harvest is being lost due to poor storage facilities, the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society chief executive has said.

In an interview on the sidelines of the ZAS prize handover ceremony at Domborutinhira in Mutasa District, ZAS chief executive, Dr Anxious Masuku, urged famers to invest more in provision of sound storage facilities.

He said there was also need for farmers to adapt to new weather patterns induced by climate change.

“25 percent of the country’s harvest is being lost due to poor storage facilities. There is need for farmers to invest more in provision of sound storage facilities.

“Farmers need storage facilities that are well ventilated. Farming is a business and needs to be approached as such. Climate change is an issue affecting our farmers and we are witnessing that every farming season.

“The weather patterns have changed. Rainfall variability has changed though the volume could be the same. Therefore, there is need for adaptation mechanisms for farmers to realise good yields. Our aim as ZAS is to improve the standards of farming through a number of initiatives.There are a number of issues affecting farming in this country that we feel need to be improved and that include policy environment. That relates to taxes or levies and other related issues.

“Inputs and finance is also another factor hampering productivity. The timely availability of inputs is critical in the success of a farmer. Production and profitability issues are also affecting farmers.

“Zimbabwe’s production is dismally low at 0.4 tonnes per hectare, yet we have witnessed bigger margins in the past. We are saying let us get back to the basics. Quality of the produce is also critical. Prize will naturally be influenced by quantity and quality,” said Dr Masuka. Unlike in the past when Harare Agricultural Show winners were handed over their prizes during the event in Harare, last Friday’s ZAS prize handover ceremony was meant to present prizes won by Mutasa farmer, Mr John Chimbodza at his own premises.

Mr Chimbodza attained third position in the 2015 edition of the Harare Agricultural Show agricultural produce division. In a separate interview ZAS chairperson, Mr Ivan Craig, said the decision to handover prizes at the particular farmers’ premises was meant to motivate fellow farmers in the area to thrive for better produce in quantity and quality.