Zimbabwe sets ambitious targets as production continues to flounder

The government of Zimbabwe has set an ambitious target of 120 million kilogrammes of tobacco from about 60,000 hectares for the 2007/08 farming season, said Deputy Agriculture Minister David Chapfika.

Agribank chief executive Mr. Sam Malaba also announced that 15,000 hectares would be planted under the Agribank/Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board facility.

Malaba and Chapfika made the revelations during the signing ceremony of a US$10 million loan facility between the PTA Bank and Agribank.

"Our main objective is to increase national self sufficiency in terms of food security, industrial and stock feed manufacturing and also trigger investment in agriculture to contribute towards economic growth and development," said Chapfika.

Tobacco output has been on a massive decline over the past seven years. At its peak in 2000, about 210 million kg were produced. Last year, only 54 million kg were produced. Over the years, tobacco has been the country’s main foreign currency earner.

Chapfika also said a minimum of 2,4 million hectares of maize, sorghum and millet would also be financed by the Government during the forthcoming season. Targeted farmers would be , communal, resettlement and small-scale commercial farmers. "Operations Maguta will target the production of one million hactare of maize and 200 000ha of small grains," he added.
He said a minimum of 400 000 hectares, 120 000 hectares and 200 000 hectares would be put under cotton, soybeans and groundnut production, respectively.

On the other hand, Agribank was expected to finance 500,000 hectares of maize and 100,000 hectares of small grains.

The deputy minister said Government acknowledged challenges besetting the agriculture sector and had put in place mechanisms to address them. These included the US$200 million Chinese facility to finance inputs and capital equipment for the agriculture sector, the Agriculture Farm Equipment Mechanisation Programme and the US$25 million Zimbabwe Farmers Development Trust/Chinese facility for tractors and related farming implements.

Since the beginning of the year, Agribank has disbursed money for both working capital and capital expenditure, funding for winter wheat, horticulture, poultry, piggery, beef and dairy, irrigation and other crops.

The Herald