BURMA VALLEY - Banana production in the country continues to decline from an average of 25 tonnes per hectare to around 17 tonnes due to lack of financial support.A local company which specialises in banana exports, Sun Span, said banana production had plummeted over years due to economic problems the country has been going through.
Sun Span Managing Director, Paul Babiolakis, told The Zimbabwean that their company was failing to meet local demand.
There is need to financially support farmers so that they can produce more for export and earn the country forex, he said.
Local farmers interviewed by this paper confirmed that production had declined significantly. They said banana production was expensive and there was need for financial assistance from local banks.
We need money to repair our dilapidated irrigation equipment and this is very costly, said Timothy Makotore, a local banana farmer.
A local banker said there was high demand for loans from the agricultural sector and most farmers did not have collateral, but farmers said banana production should be prioritized.
Bananas are grown in areas such as Honde Valley, Chimanimani, and Risitu Valley in Manicaland and Bindura in Mashonaland Central.
Post published in: Agriculture