Stakeholders call on Zim govt to appreciate maize farmers

Stakeholders and experts in Zimbabwe's agriculture sector have called on government to come with incentive mechanisms to encourage most farmers who have dumped maize for highly profitable cash crops such as tobacco to return back to growing the staple crop.

Concern has been raised that the migration of many farmers from growing maize to cash crops such as tobacco is impacting negatively on the country's food production.

The Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) says the current food deficit which is not a favourable socially and economically needs an aggressive approach where all stakeholders should ensure that maize producing farmers do so at a profitable level.

Economic analyst, Mr Chris Kasiyazi says government needs to come up with incentive mechanisms such as subsidies, favourable producer prices and support policies that give maize producers the impetus to grow the crop.

Experts say the country's maize producers have not been given a fair deal in terms of late or non-payments by the Grain Marketing Board, poor producer prices and the general lack of support and appreciation that maize being the staple food crop is important for the nation.