THE Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) 74th annual congress scheduled for September, will seek ways to create sustainable partnerships that will boost operations and increase profitability in the agricultural sector, an official has said.
Membership of the ZFU, which is the largest indigenous farmer organisation in the country, consists of small-scale commercial farmers, large-scale commercial farmers and plot holders as well as farmers in communal and resettlement areas.
The ZFU information officer, Tinashe Kairiza said preparations for the congress that will be held in Masvingo are at an advanced stage.
The country’s agricultural sector despite facing a myriad of challenges wrought by the European Union and United States imposed illegal sanctions has managed to record growth.
Tobacco has led while dairy farmers are recording growth in milk output.
However, lack of solid partnerships, especially in the value addition chain, has resulted in farmers failing to achieve maximum benefits from their operations.
Kairiza said the congress will provide a platform to discuss various issues affecting farmers’ day-to-day operations.
The congress will run under the theme ‘Synergies for Agricultural Competitiveness’.
Synergies, said Kairiza, were critical to accelerating the growth of the agricultural sector, which is the mainstay of the economy.
At its peak, the sector provided 60 percent of industry’s raw materials.
“Agriculture must again be attractive and competitive enough to create employment and contribute meaningfully to economic growth as well as support downstream industries,” Kairiza said.
He said competitiveness will be achieved by establishing synergies with players in the agriculture value chain.
Linkages that used to exist in the sector were broken when the black majority became beneficiaries of the successful Land Reform Programme that was implemented to address land imbalances in the country.
Financial institutions and markets that supported the minority white farmers have not been willing to support indigenous farmers.
But with more indigenous players owning controlling stakes in some big businesses, the situation is expected to change.
For instance, larger indigenous players are now active in the dairy industry and are consuming huge quantities of local dairy products boosting their operations.
Kairiza said the congress that will run for three days will bring all these stakeholders together and map out ways to create long lasting and mutually beneficial relations.
Apart from bonding, stakeholders will showcase goods and services at the congress.
Prominent agricultural scholars and players in the business community and farmers will lead discussions.
The congress comes at a time when government is in the process of issuing new permits for A1 farmers that will ensure security of tenure and can be used as collateral.
About 221 470 resettled farmers are set to receive the permits.