Reviving Zim’s agric sector

AGRICULTURE is of great importance to our well being hence all Zimbabweans should now forget the past and focus on reviving the sector for the future benefits that lie in the industry.
Zimbabwe had a sound agricultural sector for years and was the breadbasket of southern Africa. Agriculture occupied a central place in the Zimbabwean economy, contributing 15 to 18 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It contributed over 40 percent of national export earnings and 60 percent of manufacturers are dependent on agriculture for raw materials or as a market for inputs.
Over 70 percent of the population derives a livelihood from the agricultural sector. Agriculture-related employment supported a third of the formal labour force. The performance of the agricultural sector determines the overall level of people’s living standards and development of the economy. Since the year 2000, Zimbabwe’s farming areas have undergone a fundamental transformation under the land reform programme. The sector has suffered from poor production in most major crops and livestock over the past decade due to a number of factors discussed below.
Some of the challenges facing the agricultural sector are as follows:
– Low production and productivity due to a lack of skills combined with capital and physical resource shortages, which have kept land utilisation levels low
-Land tenure insecurity is affecting all classes of farmers. The climate of uncertainty regarding land tenure security is a deterrent and there is little new investment and capital input into the industry. Farmers are reluctant to improve and maintain or repair existing infrastructure as they are uncertain about their future
– Limited lines of credit for farmers mainly due to a lack of collateral
– Inadequate investment in the rehabilitation and development of irrigation systems to combat the effect of recurrent droughts. Limited use of agricultural equipment and machinery
l Inadequate budgetary allocations resulting in untimely payment of farmers by the Grain Marketing Board
l Unreliable power supplies and high utility charges and levies. This has greatly affected winter crop production
l Lack of a regulatory framework and non-transparency regarding  contract farming arrangements and inadequate coverage by most government input schemes.
l Farmers lack market information and market infrastructure is often poorly developed
How to revive the agricultural sector
The first step in reviving the sector is to identify and implement ways to increase both crop and livestock production. The following are some of the requirements;
Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Implementation
The recently devised CAADP principle requires that governments commit 10 percent of the national budget to developing the agricultural sector in accordance with a sound policy framework.
The key, however, lies in strengthening four pillars that have been identified as the basis for agricultural success. The CAADP framework links environmental factors to agricultural productivity.
Among the environmental factors is the need for farmers to practise sustainable land and water management and operate in a manner that does not result in land degradation.
Land tenure system
Security of tenure must be provided to all classes of farmers as it is an essential condition for the meaningful participation of private capital in financing agriculture on a sustainable basis. The rural land market which currently does not operate in Zimbabwe must be revived. This will give farmers confidence to make long-term investments on farms.
Infrastructure
In the absence of irrigation scheme development most farmers have failed to move from subsistence to commercial farming where higher yields are realised.
There is need to expand efforts in irrigation development and rehabilitation.
Infrastructure in the form of roads, machinery and equipment and post harvest handling facilities should be made accessible to farmers as part of the agriculture recoveryrocess. Improved farming skills are necessary to optimally increase agricultural productivity. The capacity of extension and research service providers needs to be strengthened.
Marketing
There is need for increased contract farming to improve access to inputs and output markets. The regulatory environment for beneficial contract farming arrangements must be strengthened. The development of capacities in data collection, analysis, storage and dissemination of market information to farmer organisations, and groups and other market players must also be promoted.
Agro-dealer funding
There is greater need to negotiate and guarantee international lines of credit for the benefit of farmers and agro-industrial firms. Creating an enabling trade environment while encouraging and strengthening primary agro-processing and value addition is also necessary.
Stakeholder involvement
Government must facilitate the setting up of mechanisms that enhance the participation of farmer organisations in agricultural programmes.
Conclusion
There is need for an all inclusive approach for all stakeholders as we work towards rebuilding Zimbabwe’s agriculture. There is need for an integrated development approach where government should facilitate and ensure a conducive policy environment which enables agricultural growth. When action is taken to address the issues above agriculture will be able to revive.

Antonnette Chingwe is an economist with the Commercial Farmers Union.