By a Correspondent
Government has urged farmers, particularly those in irrigation schemes, to engage agricultural marketing institutions before planting to secure reliable markets and improve returns from their produce.
Agriculture Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri says farmers should make use of the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), ZimTrade and farmer organisations to understand market requirements and access premium markets.
He says AMA has officers in every province and district who assists farmers, including organised groups from irrigation schemes, to identify market opportunities.
Professor Jiri says while traditional markets such as Mbare Musika in Harare and Sakubva Market in Mutare remain available, farmers who plan their production with marketing institutions stand a better chance of accessing higher-value markets.
“If the farmers plan with the Agricultural Marketing Authority and other organizations which facilitate marketing, they will be able to access the premium markets and also be able to bring the premium markets to their fields. So marketing is very critical.”
On storage, Professor Jiri said horticultural farmers should synchronise production with market demand because perishable produce is vulnerable to post-harvest losses.
He says cold-chain facilities are important for preserving horticultural produce, while government is expanding grain storage capacity through its smart silo expansion programme.
Meanwhile, Professor Jiri says high production costs remain a major challenge for farmers, with fertiliser accounting for between 32 and 40 percent of total production costs.
Other cost drivers include agrochemicals, labour and fuel, with the government exploring measures to reduce the burden through local fertiliser production, local blending of agrochemicals, investment in agricultural machinery and technology, and reviewing labour costs.
He says reducing production costs is critical to improving the competitiveness of Zimbabwean agriculture.
