Some top business leaders and policy makers have identified poor infrastructure as being the core of Zimbabwes economic challenges. In an interview last week, Manicaland Economic Consultant, James Hampton, said lack of infrastructure had hampered efforts to attain food security on the continent. He said poor infrastructure was manifesting itself in post harvest losses that had a bearing on the countrys ability to fight hunger.
The climate, soils, the water here is all here in Zimbabwe. Good regions can grow not one or two but seven tonnes of grains per hectare. But while family farmers can grow enough excess to generate income transactions costs remain high, Hampton said.
He said Zimbabwean farmers would continue to struggle unless there was serious investment by private and public sectors in small roads, small storage and small places to sell goods. Farmers could improve yields by 45 per cent if the infrastructure improved, he said. Hampton also estimated that about 30, 1 percent of Zimbabwes food stocks were lost each year due to poor storage facilities and transport systems.
If the country is to build sufficient roads and railway over two to three years, it would solve the problem, he said.
Post published in: News