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A worker carries tea plucked at Aberfoyle Tea Estates in Honde Valley last week. — Picture by John Manzongo

Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
The 2013-14 National Budget should set the right pace for the agricultural sector which has been stumbling for the five years that former Finance Minister Tendai Biti refused to properly fund the industry, farmers have said.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is expected to present the annual budget on Thursday.
Farmers who spoke to The Herald expressed hope that Minister Chinamasa — coming from the party that spearheaded land reforms, Zanu-PF — would better appreciate their concerns.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union vice president Mr Berean Mukwende said they expected more funds to be channelled towards agricultural.
He said farmers had been experiencing difficulties in accessing funding from financial institutions which preferred to largely fund tobacco.
“Funding of the agriculture sector is a priority area in the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation so we hope Government will provide adequate funding for the sector to ensure food security,” he said.

Mr Mukwende said Government should capacitate the Grain Marketing Board so that farmers were paid instantly as is the case with tobacco.

“The reason why people are attracted to tobacco is not only because of high prices, but also because of the instant payments,” he said.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president, Mrs Depinah Nkomo said farmers wanted the Minister of Finance to address the issues of high interest rates charged by banks.

“Banks are taking advantage of farmers by charging unviable interest rates and this has been affecting agricultural production.
“Irrigation is another critical area that should be seriously looked into.

“Every year we are receiving inconsistent rain. Government should therefore seriously invest in irrigation development and rehabilitation of the existing structures,” she said.

Nyabira farmer Mr Tension Mukanya added: “We cannot have a situation where we continue importing agricultural produce that can be produced locally. The country is importing a lot of agricultural produce from neighbouring countries at our farmers’ expense.”