(HERALD) Farmers blast Noczim over fuel allocation

Farmers blast Noczim over fuel allocation
By Tabitha Mutenga

FARMERS are furious with the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe and some fuel companies for allowing some to collect full allocations of cheap diesel while limiting most to only 200 litres at a time. Noczim ordered fuel companies to restrict fuel purchases for farmers to 200 litres disregarding their full allocations.

The restriction came about, as Noczim took moves to ensure that all farmers get the fuel, which is in short supply.

The motive for the directive was seen in good faith until some people deemed "influential’’ were allowed to pay for and collect their full allocations against the spirit of the restriction.

Mazowe Syndicate chairman, Mr Garikai Msika said Noczim had indeed written a memo to fuel companies ordering them to restrict allocations for all farmers to 200 litres.

"Oil companies are receiving limited quantities and it is only fair that all farmers share the commodity," he said.

Mrs Netsai Nyamhunga, a Banket farmer said there was no problem if the restriction was effected because of low diesel supplies.

"But when other farmers are paying for more fuel allocations than others it shows that the facility is being abused and we have problems with that. If every farmer has to pay for a drum of diesel this should apply across the board,’’ she lamented.

However, Noczim public relations manager Ms Zvikomborero Sibanda said the company was committed to providing fuel to all farmers in line with the country’s agrarian reform and continues to avail diesel for farming activities.

The parastatal has been disbursing diesel for winter wheat farming and summer crop harvesting since April 2008, and to date a total of 16 million litres of diesel has been distributed to farmers.

"This decision was made taking into consideration our limited diesel stocks due to foreign currency challenges the country is facing.

"The parastatal also took into consideration the fact that for winter wheat production, diesel was critical at preparation stage and thus reduced allocations at this time of the season would not have a major impact on the crop output," she said.

A few individuals who sell the product on the parallel market have abused the facility, meant to provide cheap fuel to the farming sector to boost productivity.

Bindura farmer, Mr Remigio Matangira said the 200-litre allocation was not enough to allow serious commercial farming.

"Farmers cannot even harvest their crops and make proper land preparations considering 200 litres can only disc 10ha of land.

"Noczim should identify farmers who are more deserving and give them fuel according to their needs instead of abusing the facility and giving full allocations to just a few people," he said.

Mr Matangira said that he failed to finish harvesting his maize crop because he could not get diesel and his land preparations have been crippled.

Noczim acknowledged that there were farmers that were getting allocations higher than the stipulated 200 litres and these were mainly tobacco growers, currently doing land preparation.

Diesel has been in short supply and most farmers were battling to get adequate supplies for harvesting wheat and land preparation.

Last year, fuel shortages saw a number of farmers reducing hectarage and in the process production declined.