As we reported last week, there are indications that there will be a crippling shortage of fertilizer in the 2012-13 season, the main reason being that producers do not have the money to start manufacturing because they are owed so much money by the government and other clients.
We urge the government to do the best it can to make sure that it settles the debt to the fertilizer producing companies for what it borrowed last season. The same applies to private players who have also borrowed from the firms. It is heartening to note that Tendai Biti, the Finance Minister, has already indicated that a fund has been set aside to service this debt.
It should be noted, though, that preparations for the coming season should go beyond just settling debts. There is need for the government to establish strategies to ensure that fertilizer and seed are acquired and distributed to farmers in plenty of time to ensure they can be put to good use for the growing season.
Ever since 2000, more than a decade ago, the government has been accused of paying lip service to the provision of inputs, with farmers sometimes receiving these well after the onset of the rainy season.
This needs to change if we are to realise meaningful yields and avert the hunger that has become a perennial menace. Granted, climate change is severely affecting agriculture in Zimbabwe, but poor harvests are also man-made to a large extent. Simply put, our planning over the years has been shoddy.
By this time, we expect the government to have decided on effective ways of transporting and distributing grain. It would actually be desirable if an empirical assessment of farmers’ inputs needs was done to guide the distribution. Nothing of that sort has been happening in the past, with most interventions being carried out on an ad hoc basis.
There is also need to come up with a way of protecting farmers, particularly the communal ones, from partisan distribution of inputs. Year in and year out, we have reports of people considered political enemies being excluded from inputs schemes.
These are mostly vulnerable and poor farmers. On the other hand, influential politicians and their cronies have benefited from inputs meant for small-scale farmers. To make matters worse these big sharks hardly do any farming, choosing instead to sell the inputs and pocket the money. This must be stopped.
Those in authority should stop making noises about drought and plan carefully to protect the country against hunger.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga