Rutendo Chirume
High cost of farming inputs for the upcoming cropping season seem to be threatening Masvingo province’s billing as guardian to national food security, with most rural-based farmers crying foul over the ever-increasing prices which have gone beyond the reach of many.
Just a few weeks before the new cropping season that usually starts in mid- November, the soaring prices of seed maize is likely to result in reduced hectrade of the nation’s staple cereal.
An average 25kg of maize seed now costs between US$ 19 and US$25 that translates to between ZW$ 3000-ZW$4500 when converted along the parallel market rates.
A farmer who owns a plot in Masvingo rural at Beza spoke on condition of anonymity to TellZim News saying maize seed price is so expensive and if coupled with the cost of tilling the land that stands at US$100 per hectare, it only shows how expensive it would be for a farmer.
“I usually plant at least five hectares of land at my plot but this coming season I am forced to plough less considering the prices of seeds and all other related expenses needed for planting I have to cover this season,” he said.
Another farmer Tambudzai Zivuchi from Gutu district said maize seed is expensive and is banking on the presidential input scheme for maize seed because she will not afford to buy a 25kg bag of maize seed which she needs for all her fields in the village.
“I am lucky because I am guaranteed at least 10kg of maize seed from the Pfumvudza scheme. Other villagers are already using maize from last season’s harvests as seed because they have no other means to get the seed. I am at an advantage because I am active member of Zanu PF,” Zivuchi said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) Masvingo Provincial manager Jeremiah Chimwanda expressed concern over the prices saying government should assist farmers with capital and inputs considering the economic hardships and financial hustles in the country.
“The maize seed varies in prices but the majority of farmers in Masvingo province will not be able to buy more than 25kgs of maize seed since as a country we are facing high inflation therefore if possible government could assist our farmers with inputs which are needed,” said Chimwanda.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said the Pfumvudza presidential input scheme is largely focusing on the vulnerable that is the elderly and unemployed individual farmers around the province.
“I do not have the exact statistics of households to receive the inputs, but I am certain it is channeled towards the elderly and vulnerable people in the community. Each head gets a bag of 10kg maize seed as of now,” said Chadzamira.
Masvingo province is believed to have over 10 000 hectares of land used for agriculture but the high cost of seeds are likely to negatively impact on production on the farms.
The majority of people in Zimbabwe earn around ZW$19, 000 per month.
A 25kg bag of maize seed covers at least one hectare that would cost ZW$3, 420 on average and despite that, the farmer would need other inputs like fertilizer and labour.
While the Pfumvudza presidential input scheme is aimed at boosting farmers’ yields, around 150 individual farmers in each district out of the seven in Masvingo province with about 1,485million people, the total beneficiaries’ number falls way below the figure of the needy.
Government tasked the province with ensuring food security because of abundant water resources in its proximity as 50 percent of water in the country lies in Masvingo.
The province has been put under command to boost food security in the country but the prevailing inflation will likely affect the 2022 maize harvest which may trigger serious food shortages.
