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Sifelani Tsiko recently in Headlands

The rising prices of goods and services is negatively affecting the smooth operation of the Nyamusosa Cooperative in Makoni Rural District.

Mr Edmore Kanyange, chairperson of the Nyamusosa Credit and Savings Coop, told journalists on a tour of rural projects that rapidly changing prices of inputs, fuel and agricultural produce were having a negative impact on their farming business activities.

“Our tractor hiring service business has been affected by fuel price increases,” he said. “We charge per hectare and when you go to buy fuel, you find the price has changed. This is eroding our earnings and the viability of our operations.

“We are now being forced to charge US$100 per hectare to cushion ourselves from rising fuel costs.”

He said rapidly changing market prices for their produce was also eroding their earnings.

“Prices are changing fast and we are not up to date with price changes in our markets,” said Mr Kanyange. “We feel the impact when we want to buy inputs.

“Some hardware suppliers are demanding foreign currency and when you want to buy in local currency the prices are too high. It’s a major problem for us.”

The Nyamusosa Coop started in 2015 and has 170 members who are involved in various agricultural projects.

It is a major beneficiary of the Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LSFP) run by Practical Action and its partners.

The LSFP is part of the Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Production for Increased Resilience and Economic Growth (INSPIRE) project funded by the UK’s Department of International Development and managed by the Food and Agricuture Organisation (FAO).

It aims to improve agricultural productivity access to markets and nutrition in Makoni, Mutasa and Mutare rural districts.

The Nyamusosa group has benefited extensively from Practical Action’s support through enhanced knowledge, practices and skills, promotion of viable business models, diverse market information, and increased access to rural finance and women empowerment.

Its members are involved in tractor services, horticulture, seed production, goat, pig, beef, chicken rearing and beekeeping.

Despite the difficult economic environment, the group has 27 turkeys, seven pigs, 50 free range chickens, 4 040 gum trees, 420 fruit trees and has an agro-processing unit which makes herbal teas, dried vegetables, peanut butter and roasted maize.

In addition to this, it has produced 60 tonnes of seed for the Zimbabwe Super Seed Company this year.

“We are happy with the incomes we are getting,” said Agatha Maruma, the vice chairperson of the coop. “We are now able to pay fees, buy clothes and other household needs.”

The group is producing orange maize and beans rich in iron and zinc.

Rising fuel costs to run a generator to power irrigation are hampering their work.

Mr Kanyange said they now want support to procure a solar system to help them reduce their production costs and adopt environmentally friendly farming         methods.