Maravi

(HERALD) EU releases funds for 6 000t fertilizer

EU releases funds for 6 000t fertilizer
Business Reporter

The Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union has unveiled a fertilizer subsidy for its 17 000 members that will see them purchasing ammonium nitrate and Compound D at 50 percent of the market price.

ZFU executive director Mr Paul Zakariya yesterday said they had clinched a deal with the European Union for the sale of 6 000 tonnes of fertilizer to members at subsidised prices.

Mr Zakariya said farmers would pay 50 percent of the market price with the EU paying for the balance.

The deal took several months to negotiate and has the potential to boost agricultural production.

"Farmers will pay as little as US$16 for a bag of either ammonium nitrate or Compound D from either the Zimbabwe Fertilizer Company or Windmill with the EU taking care of the outstanding costs.

"We asked farmers to apply for the scheme and all those who applied had their applications approved. They should go to their ZFU offices and get vouchers with which to go and buy fertilizers from Windmill or ZFC," said Mr Zakariya.

He added: "The project is meant to boost the production of cereals like maize and other small grain crops that are vital in filling up the domestic silos and leave enough surplus to get the manufacturing industry going.

"Farmers should, therefore, approach their offices starting today and get vouchers to speedily acquire inputs as the season is upon us."

ZFU and Agritex have deployed extension officers to assist farmers and monitor the implementation of the programme. Despite a number of input support schemes being unveiled over the past month, farmers have complained that they are yet to access any of the seed and fertilizers.

Government’s US$210 million Inputs Loan Support Scheme has seen few farmers getting seed or fertilizer due to the conditions of accessing the facility through banks, which want them to satisfy normal loan application procedures such as possessing immovable property as collateral.

Various other initiatives have been launched ahead of the main cropping season but farmers say not much has been distributed. Some say they have been given fertilizers ahead of seed and they have consequently been forced to sell these. Some experts have argued that farmers require greater subsidies from Government and its developmental partners if they are to farm profitably. Countries like Zambia and Malawi now heavily subsidise their farmers and have in recent years become net exporters of grain.

Overseas, the EU and the United States spend millions of dollars in farm subsidies.

Labels: EU, FERTILIZER

posted by MrK @ 12:14 AM