April 15, 2013

THE Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) has revised local corn production of 2013 at 800 000 tonnes from an earlier projection of 1.2 million tonnes, due to a dry season at the start of the year.

ZCFU president, Wonder Chapikwa, said that corn output will plunge to 800 000 tonnes in 2013, against an annual consumption of 2.2 tonnes.

The situation was further exacerbated by the late planting season and government's failure to avail inputs on time. Most farmers also stopped growing corn in preference for tobacco.

Chapikwa said the areas most affected by drought included Matabeleland South and North, part of Mashonaland East. Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces were expected to have a better harvest. Chapikwa added that the government's plan to import corn and reduce deficit might be thwarted by high costs of corn, due to scarcity of grain in the region.

Agriculture in Zimbabwe has been weakened by poor financing and planning. The country has been a net importer of food over the past decade.

Last year, the country also recorded a deficit in corn production. Planted areas declined 19% to 1,689,786 hectares from 2,096,035 hectares in 2011.

Chapikwa said that the government should prioritise irrigation to revive corn production in order to cope with changing rainfall patterns.