(HERALD) Farmers need partnerships: VP

Farmers need partnerships: VP
Saturday, 05 February 2011 23:34 Agriculture
By Kuda Bwititi

VICE-President Joice Mujuru has implored the corporate sector to foster joint synergies with farmers as such partnerships spur economic development.

Speaking at a field day hosted by Mr Simbayi Makoni and his wife Mrs Chipo Mujuru-Makoni, who is the Vice-President’s daughter, at Lagnana Farm near Bindura yesterday, Cde Mujuru said companies should roll out national programmes in partnership with farmers.

The Vice-President said the Government alone could not support every farmer in the country, making it necessary for companies to formulate win-win partnerships with farmers.

“Government alone cannot support the farmers and, as such, companies need to expand their portfolios by reaching out to as many farmers as possible.

“By so doing, both parties will be in a win-win situation that will result in national prosperity because every success achieved in the agriculture sector will cascade down to other sectors,” he said.

Vice-President Mujuru urged companies to do away with the red tape and bureaucracy which was inhibiting assistance to farmers.
“Many farmers find it difficult to get lines of credit and to acquire equipment yet some institutions are sitting on money and expensive machinery.
“Companies should be self-introspective and make plans to work together with the farmers. Their officials should not just wear neckties and sit in their high offices in the cities but should come to the outskirts and work with the farmers in ways that are profitable to both parties,” she said.

Cde Mujuru said partnerships between farmers and the corporate world would result in increased revenue for Government which could be used in infrastructure development and the creation of employment.
“At the end of the day, the country stands to benefit immensely from such partnerships because we will have increased revenue to develop the nation and even to increase civil servants’ salaries,” she said.
She said the Zanu-PF-led Government had embarked on the land reform programme to safeguard family dignity.

“When the Government initiated land reform, we realised that farming was important in upholding family values. Our aim was that if we could have between three and four million people benefiting from the programme, food security would be achieved. Once we had food security, the next stage would be economic development,” she said.
Vice-President Mujuru blasted the Harare City Council for slashing maize in the city, saying urban farmers needed support.

“It is sad that we have people who have the willpower to farm but some people have the audacity to slash their crops. You begin to question the motives of such people . . . Vanhu ava vakabva kuvanhu here?” she said.

Vice-President Mujuru also took a swipe at farmers that are not utilising their land allocated through the land reform programme.

She praised Mr and Mrs Makoni for productively utilising their land and urged other youths to follow the example set by the young couple.

Speaking at the same occasion, Mrs Mujuru-Makoni said the couple had entered into a contract scheme with China’s Huebei Province and Sino Zimbabwe to grow tobacco and cotton respectively.

Companies that participated in the field day included, Sino Zim, Nico Orgo Fertiliser, Dore & Pitt as well as Windmill.-The Sunday Mail