News / National
Farmers demand new maize producer price
23 Sep 2013 at 03:37hrs | Views
Farmers are demanding a new maize producer price of between US$400 and US$496 per tonne to encourage more farmers to grow the crop and enhance the country's food security.
Zimbabwe Farmers' Union second vice president Mr Berean Mukwende said that farmers want Government to review the price of maize to enable them to meet production costs and earn a livelihood from the crop.
"Farmers are demanding a maize floor price of between US$400 and US$496 per tonne. This price will motivate farmers to grow maize and ensure the country has enough food stocks in its reserves," he said.
"Government should not take long to review the pre-planting maize producer price. It must offer farmers a new price before the planting season starts. Farmers are anxious for a favourable maize price that can enable them to cover production cost and help them earn a living."
New maize producer prices, he said, would give farmers policy direction and motivate them to grow maize rather than opting for other cash crops such as tobacco.
Last month, the Government announced the new buying price of US$378 per tonne for the 2013-14 marketing season, up by 28 percent from last year's figure of US$295.
"We feel the announcement of the producer price will help the farmers to prepare for the coming cropping season," Mr Mukwende said.
"Farmers want to invest in crops they are assured of a better return."
Delays in the announcement of better maize prices, he said, would force many farmers to abandon the crop in favour of other cash crops.
Farmer flight from growing maize into tobacco growing has reduced maize stocks in the country's silos and forced the country to augment its maize supplies with imports.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers' Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa concured with Mr Mukwende and warned that further delays in the announcement of new maize prices would lead to a further decline in national maize output.
A pre-planting maize producer price will also encourage contractors and other investors to channel resources towards maize production in the country, farmer groupings said.
Only about 20 metric tonnes of maize were delivered between April and August this year to the Grain Marketing Board. The bulk of maize remains unaccountable in private hands.
Zimbabwe needs about 1,4 million tonnes of grain for human consumption and 350 000 tonnes for livestock and other uses a year.
Zimbabwe Farmers' Union second vice president Mr Berean Mukwende said that farmers want Government to review the price of maize to enable them to meet production costs and earn a livelihood from the crop.
"Farmers are demanding a maize floor price of between US$400 and US$496 per tonne. This price will motivate farmers to grow maize and ensure the country has enough food stocks in its reserves," he said.
"Government should not take long to review the pre-planting maize producer price. It must offer farmers a new price before the planting season starts. Farmers are anxious for a favourable maize price that can enable them to cover production cost and help them earn a living."
New maize producer prices, he said, would give farmers policy direction and motivate them to grow maize rather than opting for other cash crops such as tobacco.
Last month, the Government announced the new buying price of US$378 per tonne for the 2013-14 marketing season, up by 28 percent from last year's figure of US$295.
"We feel the announcement of the producer price will help the farmers to prepare for the coming cropping season," Mr Mukwende said.
"Farmers want to invest in crops they are assured of a better return."
Delays in the announcement of better maize prices, he said, would force many farmers to abandon the crop in favour of other cash crops.
Farmer flight from growing maize into tobacco growing has reduced maize stocks in the country's silos and forced the country to augment its maize supplies with imports.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers' Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa concured with Mr Mukwende and warned that further delays in the announcement of new maize prices would lead to a further decline in national maize output.
A pre-planting maize producer price will also encourage contractors and other investors to channel resources towards maize production in the country, farmer groupings said.
Only about 20 metric tonnes of maize were delivered between April and August this year to the Grain Marketing Board. The bulk of maize remains unaccountable in private hands.
Zimbabwe needs about 1,4 million tonnes of grain for human consumption and 350 000 tonnes for livestock and other uses a year.
Source - Herald
