Govt apologises to irate farmers
STAFF WRITER
The cash strapped government has apologised to irate farmers who it is now desperate to appease for the delay in settling millions of dollars it owes to them.
Government has failed to pay hundreds of farmers across the country but has vowed to settle the debts and offered an apology to the disgruntled farmers.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, acknowledged that payment delays were eroding the value of farmers’ earnings, particularly the Zimbabwe dollar component.
“The government apologises profusely for the delay, this has been occasioned by the delay by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, who are the buyers of the Strategic Grain Reserve,” Masuka said.
“When we get this money, we pass on immediately to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to pay farmers. As of yesterday (Monday), all the maize and traditional grain delivered to GMB had been fully paid for by the Government, both the US dollar and Zimbabwe dollar components,” Dr Masuka said.
He added: “All the Zimbabwe dollar payment for wheat has been fully met. Some component of the United States dollar outstanding payment has been paid. What has been outstanding as of yesterday (Monday) is US$$34.9m and the Government is committed to pay this outstanding amount before the end of April 2024. Government profusely apologises for the delay, we will ensure that this will not recur. Farmers must draw confidence from these measures we are taking and that we will be able to pay timeously.”
Dr Masuka added that the Government had adopted a deliberate strategy to pay timeously the Zimbabwe dollar component and the amounts would be indexed to the prevailing exchange rate of the day and not on the day the crop was delivered.
Speaking at the same media briefing, Information Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere also revealed that Cabinet approved an incentive planning price of US$440 per tonne for wheat and US$360 for maize and sorghum.
“Cabinet also approved an incentive planning price of US$440 per tonne for wheat and a planning price of US$360 per tonne for maize/sorghum.
“These viable producer prices should incentivise farmers to commit more land to wheat production. Government encourages all farmers with available irrigation and land to contribute to national efforts to produce a bumper wheat crop as part of the national strategy to ensure food security,” Dr Muswere said.
He added: “Zimbabwe has comparative advantage producing wheat rather than maize or sorghum in winter. Accordingly, a total of 120 000 hectares have been targeted for wheat production during the 2024 winter cereal production season, compared to the 90 912 hectares planted in 2023.
“The total production is estimated as 624 000 tonnes, against a national requirement of 360 000 tonnes annually. The hectarage will be financed through banks; the Presidential Input Scheme; ARDA (Estates plus Joint Ventures); the Food Crop Contractors Association (FCCA); and self-financing,”
Dr Muswere said.
He added: “Farmers are being advised that the country has enough wheat seed and chemicals, some fertilisers and chemicals in stock for the 2024 winter cereals production season. The deficit in fertiliser requirements has to be met through imports. There is enough water in the country’s dams for the winter cereals production programme. In terms of mechanisation, there is enough capacity to adequately and timeously till the 120 000 hectares.”
