Fruits and vegetables of South African origin being sold in a supermarket in Groombridge at the expense of local produce.
FARMERS have castigated policymakers for failure to initiate and harmonise agricultural policies that protect them as Zimbabwe gears for the regional free customs union.
Responding to questions over the Zimbabwe agricultural sector’s preparedness to join the soon-to-come free customs union, the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) lambasted what it termed the unco-ordinated agricultural policies prevailing in the country with regards the importation of agricultural produce.
“We welcome agricultural produce imports for those products not readily available through local farmers, but what we have experienced is that agricultural produce is being imported willy-nilly.
“Go to local supermarkets, they are stuffed with imported vegetables and fruits. Surprisingly we have local farmers who have been forced to dump their produce for lack of markets. Importing lemons, do we really have a shortage of lemons in the country?” lamented ZFU’s first vice-president Mr Abdul Nyathi.
Mr Nyathi explained that policymakers do not consult them and this lack of consultation has led to disastrous policies that prejudice them being implemented.
“When there are shortages in the market, we have no problems with the imports. We have fought battles over the importation of foreign chicken on our market. The country was allowing cheap South African chickens into the country and these threatened local chicken production,” said Mr Nyathi.
A visit to Harare’s uptown supermarkets revealed a variety of mainly South African-imported fruits and vegetables, including locally abundant sweet potatoes.
A supermarket in Groombridge had almost all its shelves filled with South African fruits and vegetables.
Ironically on one of the South African-imported beetroot on sale in the supermarket was written, “Buying this products creates jobs”.
Queried Mr Nyathi: “Zimbabwe is now selling South African beetroot to create jobs for South Africans. Meanwhile, what is happening to Zimbabwean farmers? Farmers in Manicaland are throwing away their fruits and vegetables because no one is buying them.”
The situation was the same at other shops at Sam Levy’s Village in Borrowdale and Avondale.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, agricultural and environmental consultant Mr Rodger Mpande explained that the prevailing situation where business imports locally available agricultural produce does not augur well for the country’s agricultural development.
“These fruits and vegetables are imported at roughly 40 percent tariff structure, but business still imports and charges premium prices for them.
“Now, if they stock their shops from local produce, wouldn’t that be empowerment for our local farmers who have been forced to throw away their produce for lack of markets?” queried Mr Mpande.
He said policymakers should be alive to international trading patterns and ensure that Zimbabwe does not become a dumping ground for both regional and overseas producers.
He queried why ZimStats (formerly Central Statistical Office) was not guiding policymakers through their statistics.
“Shouldn’t ZimStats be guiding policymakers through their provision of statistics? They should be aware of where the gaps are in the agricultural sector.
“Say, if there is a shortage of lemons, ZimStats should provide that information to farmer organisations who will then communicate with their membership to take up the opportunity in growing the lemons,” said Mr Mpande.
He also castigated farmer organisations for failing to use available data to guide them produce for both the local and export market.
For example, the Horticultural Promotions Council has produced a fruit and vegetable calendar that clearly spells out likely horticultural produce shortages, which local farmers could take advantage of.
“Policymakers should be judicious and create policies that ensure Zimbabwe does not become a dumping ground for foreign agricultural policies,” said Mr Mpande.- The Sunday Mail
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