Farmers call for easy access to markets

FARMERS have implored the Government to scale up rural infrastructure development, especially rehabilitation of roads, to improve their access to markets in order to boost agriculture productivity and rural livelihoods.
In an interview, Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) operations director, Dr Prince Kuipa, said there is dire need to upgrade major roads linking farmers to key markets.

He said the poor state of roads negatively affects transportation of produce, which limits their potential to contribute positively to the agricultural sector and the economy as a whole.

“The Harare to Chinhoyi, Bulawayo to Victoria Falls and Karoi roads, amongst others, are the main roads that have been making it difficult for farmers to transport their produce to markets,” he said.

Dr Kuipa further highlighted that commercial farmers are lacking financial resources as banks which are supposed to give them loans are insisting on collateral security.

“Apart from bad roads, farmers have been encountering hardships in raising financial resources which is a limiting factor in terms of improving crop quality and competitiveness on the markets,” he said.
Dr Kuipa said ZFU has been lobbying the Government to give new farmers tittle deeds which they could use as security when applying for loans.

“We appreciate that Government has responded positively to our calls to empower new farmers and has started giving farmers title deeds which some farmers are already using as security to obtain loans,” he said
Dr Kuipa said the ZFU on its part is assisting by training farmers so that they have the knowledge and skills required to adapt to the ever-evolving farming environment.

Meanwhile, the Government’s Rural Development 8,0 rural development initiative, which will focus on value addition and beneficiation of agriculture produce is expected to set the stage for the transformation of Zimbabwe’s rural economy.-chroncile