But sadly, this is not so, Zimbabweans should brace for another hungry
year as most farmers are failing to plant crops, due to a lack of
inputs including seed and fertlizer among other thingss.
Normally there would have been a lot of agricultural activity at this
time but as evidenced at some of the former commercial farms that
RadioVOP visited, this is not so.
Village 15 near the former mining town of Mvuma, in Chirumhanzu
district in the Midlands Province, used to be part of the Central
Estates cattle ranch. It used to comprise more than 100 kilometers of
arable land, stretching from the town to the Mhondoro communal lands.
The landscape is now dotted with grass dwellings as well as
pole-and-mud huts. Some are so dilapidated they seem to have been
abandoned.Similarly most of the fields adjacent to the homesteads
either lie fallow or are overgrown, intensifying the overall atmosphere
of neglect.
If this were a normal agricultural season dry-planted crops would be in
various stages of growth. But despite the on-set of the rainy season
there has not been much planting in Village 15. Only a handful of
farmers can be seen in the fields.
Villagers complained that when available, seed and other inputs are
either charged in foreign currency or sold at too high prices in local
currency.
Obvious Gara is one of the few who have managed to plant some seed.
Gara said he has been able to plant because he had seed left over from last year.
"It’s not enough," he said. " I would need a hundred kilograms of maize
seed to complete the whole field. I am afraid to use ordinary seed
which is untreated because I fear it might not germinate. If everything
was alright, I would be able to produce more than I did last year, and
be able to supply maize to those in town and others from around who
would not have the maize, helping to avert the hunger that is stalking
the country," he said.
Another villager, Tapiwa pointed to a small patch of land, despair etched on his face.
Looking hungry, Tapiwa said he thinks the country faces another
disastrous season. "At the moment I have not done any meaningful
planting. I don’t have even a grain of seed. It will be difficult to
avert the current food crisis because we can’t grow anything as we
don’t have seed,’ he explained disappointedly.
Other villagers, complained that under normal circumstances most of
their crops would be at an advanced stage of growth. with the maize
crop almost knee-high. In the past some farmers used to plant untreated
maize but this year most do not even have grain to feed their families.
Some war veterans also expressed concern over the unavailability of
inputs and castigated people involved in Operation Maguta – who are
supposed to give inputs to farmers – for being corrupt. Most inputs
provided by the government rarely benefit real farmers as they end up
on the parallel market.
While some residents of Chirumhanzu worry about the unavailability of
seed, their counterparts in Shurugwi, Chiundura and Lower Gweru face
other problems.
Nyaradzo Gede, a farmer in Shurugwi said that even if seed was
available, it would be difficult to plant because of a lack of draught
power and farming implements.
Most farmers in the areas exchange their cows with maize as hunger takes its toil. Others cannot work due to hunger.
The World Food Programme recently warned it would have to cut rations
in Zimbabwe due to a lack of funds from donors. Over 5 million
peopleare expected to need food aid by January. Food aid agencies need
to raise about USD 550 million to feed hungry people in Zimbabwe.
Radio VOP
Post published in: News