THE Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) is pushing ahead with the registration of farmers, buyers, contractors and processors as part of broad agricultural market reforms aimed at improving traceability, reducing side marketing and strengthening structured trading systems.
AMA chief executive officer Mrs Alice Mapfiza said the initiative seeks to formalise agricultural value chains and ensure that all players in the system are properly registered and accountable.
She made the remarks during a recent roundtable discussion organised by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
Mrs Mapfiza said farmers would be encouraged to verify that all buyers purchasing their commodities are registered with AMA to safeguard them from unfair trading practices.
“We expect all farmers to register with us and we also expect all buyers, contractors and processors to register,” she said.
“For farmers, it is important to ensure that anyone coming to buy your commodities is registered with AMA so that you are protected.”
She said the registration programme was already more advanced in value chains such as macadamia and sesame, with plans underway to expand coverage to other commodities.
Mrs Mapfiza said the reforms were designed to create traceable value chains, reduce side marketing and improve coordination among all actors in the agricultural sector.
She added that AMA also seeks to play an arbitration role in resolving disputes between farmers and buyers where contractual disagreements arise.
“We want structured markets where, if there are disputes, AMA can step in as an arbitrator to ensure fairness in the system,” she said.
Mrs Mapfiza said the authority was also working on introducing a registered farmer group certificate system this year to improve visibility of producers and support better market organisation.
The system, she said, would be implemented in collaboration with development partners and stakeholders to ensure farmers are organised into recognised groups.
“We are also planning a farmer group registration certificate so that we know who is producing what and where,” she said.
FAO Sustainable Soil Management Project Coordinator Mr Obert Maminimini said the organisation supported such reforms as they align with global development priorities.
He said FAO’s work is anchored on its strategic framework of “better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life for all,” which aligns closely with Zimbabwe’s agricultural transformation agenda.
Mr Maminimini said FAO’s technical support to agricultural programmes in Zimbabwe was strengthened by partnerships with specialised global institutions such as the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
“These partnerships place us in a strong position to support agricultural transformation and ensure systems are aligned with international standards,” he said.
Mrs Mapfiza said AMA was also intensifying training programmes for farmers, with a focus on market standards, compliance and export readiness.
She said compliance should be viewed not as a cost burden but as an enabler that allows local products to access both domestic and international markets.
“We cannot trade without compliance. Compliance should be seen as an enabler for exports and improved market access,” she said.
She added that AMA was strengthening quality grading systems and enforcement of minimum standards to improve the competitiveness of Zimbabwean agricultural produce.
The authority is also working on operationalising the Agriculture Marketing Fund, which is expected to be financed through contributions from market players and leveraged to attract additional support from financial institutions.
Mrs Mapfiza said the fund could help unlock blended financing models that lower borrowing costs for farmers and improve investment in production and marketing.
She said AMA envisions a more structured and transparent agricultural market where farmers, buyers and financiers operate within a predictable and regulated system that supports growth and investment in the sector.-herald
