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Dr Made

Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
THE 2013-14 summer cropping season is under threat from uneven rainfall patterns, shortage of fertiliser and a lack of funding for A2 farmers.
Zanu-PF deliberated on problems bedevilling the farming sector and resolved to, among other things, exhort relevant ministries in Government to widen sources of agriculture finance beyond and in addition to current contract farming structures as well as to prioritise the development of water harvesting systems to increase the production of food crops.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made last Friday said the rainfall pattern was not pleasing.
“This is not the way we would want to see it but the rainfall pattern is a natural phenomenon which we do not have control over. We have agreed as Cabinet that cloud seeding should now begin but the process will depend on the availability of the conducive clouds,” he said.
Dr Made noted that the weather pattern was moving towards January 14 when the country normally starts experiencing the mid-season dry spell.

He said the levels of planting maize, tobacco and soyabeans was satisfactory although the cotton sector had remained suppressed.
“I urge farmers to continue planting and in some areas farmers may have to replant.

“Lack of funding continues to affect A2 farmers. Government had to release US$5 million to Agribank to fund the production of maize. Agribank and CBZ are working out to assist farmers. I urge A2 farmers to go to their banks and continue negotiating for funding,” he said.
He said this year Government would issue out a pre-first round crop and livestock assessment report to help in properly addressing matters that relate to food and nutrition.

“Irrigation schemes owe Zesa and Zinwa money and the two institutions have switched some farmers off. This is a difficult situation for farmers who are curing tobacco and irrigating their crops. Power cuts have also affected fertiliser companies such as Sable Chemicals,” he said.

Fertiliser has also remained a major challenge as operations at most manufacturing companies have been hampered by lack of funding.
The companies have failed to meet the targeted requirement for this season.

Out of the 161 000 tonnes of fertilisers required for this season, only 51 000 tonnes were dispatched while 8 000 tonnes of the targeted 30 000 tonnes of lime have been dispatched.

Some companies were concentrating on producing compounds such as C and L for tobacco and cotton according to their prior contractual arrangements.

Dr Made said fertiliser companies were also having problems in moving the commodity to farming areas as transporters demanded cash upfront while banks were not willing to advance cash to companies but instead required Government guarantee or Treasury bills.
Some companies have approached Government for assistance and this is still being considered.