(HERALD ZW) State to formalise contract farming
January 24, 2014
Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
Government is drafting a Statutory Instrument to guide contract farming and encourage farmers to switch to the arrangement. Farmers are in a dilemma owing to lack of funding. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for Cropping Davis Marapira said Government was in the process of drafting the SI
“With the current situation, we encourage farmers who are not able to finance themselves to go into contract farming. It is disturbing that some farmers were resettled on prime land but are failing to utilise it due to financial challenges.
“Contract farming is the only way to go. Farmers are stressed as they struggle to access inputs and establish markets for their produce.
“Under contract farming, the farmer is guaranteed of inputs and market,” he said.
Deputy Minister Marapira said the absence of a Government policy on contract farming was disadvantaging farmers and contractors.
“Contract farming does not mean land will be returned to the whites. Government allows farmers to get into contracts not leasing land to the former owners. We want proper partnerships that benefit farmers.
“We allow public-private-partnerships between farmers and parastatals,” he said.
Labels: CONTRACT FARMING, DAVIS MARAPIRA, TOBACCO
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(SUNDAY MAIL ZW) More grain from Zambia by month end
Sunday, 03 November 2013 00:00
Sunday Mail Reporter
Zimbabwe is set to receive an additional 28 000 metric tonnes of grain from Zambia before the end of the month, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation, Cde Davis Marapira, has disclosed. The grain is set to be immediately distributed to some drought-stricken areas where Government has been distributing maize from the 10 000 metric tonnes it accessed from the country’s strategic grain reserve.
Cde Marapira disclosed that efforts to mobilise the money needed to ensure that the country takes delivery of the grain are already under way.
“Treasury is currently mobilising resources to import our next consignment of grain which should arrive in the country in the next 30 days. At least US$10 million is needed for the next consignment before the consignment is shipped.
“Presently we are distributing grain from the strategic grain reserves to areas where there are food deficits. We have also been receiving wheat from some friendly countries and it is always being distributed as part of measures aimed at ensuring that no one starves,” he said.
Recently, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Minister Dr Joseph Made told Cabinet that Zambia was demanding cash upfront before delivering any grain, resulting in only less than 20 000mt of grain out of the agreed 150 000mt having been received from Zambia so far.
He highlighted that the process of delivering grain takes more than 14 days since by law all maize must be fumigated before transportation while the transportation itself takes between seven to 14 days.
Labels: DAVIS MARAPIRA, MAIZE, ZAMBIA
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