IT is less than three months before the start of the summer cropping season and what farmers do now will determine the yields to be achieved.
Many farmers due to various operational challenges did not engage in winter cropping.
And these farmers are engaged in preparations for the forthcoming season.
To increase yields, farmers have taken the advice from experts not to cease operations after harvests, but to begin preparations for the next one.
Presently farmers that are fortunate to have some funds are engaged in land preparation and are having soils tested as well as applying lime where necessary.
With stakeholders in the agriculture sector aiming for a rebound of the sector, strides are being made to ensure farmers continue to acquire knowledge and embrace best farming practices to maximise production.
Agriculture remains one of the major contributors to economic growth alongside mining and construction.
But a myriad of challenges that include limited financial support for production as most farmers lack collateral to borrow from the bank as well as high interest rates have been cited as major drawbacks.
Presenting the 2015 Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa highlighted that US$1,7 billion was needed to fund the 2015/2016 agricultural season with the funds required for both crop and livestock production.
Of the said amount US$1,3 billion would go towards crop production.
With the issue of funding having been cited as one of the major drawbacks, experts say farmers must immediately start negotiations for funds before the rains start falling.
“It is now common knowledge that Government is pressed and will not be in a position to fund all the farmers thus producers must start presenting their proposals to prospective funders,” said economic analyst Hubert Muzikani.
“It is time that our farmers treat farming as a business.
“Capital might be scarce, but with viable proposals, capital can be unlocked.”
Recently Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for Livestock, Paddy Zhanda told Parliament that Government would not be funding A2 farmers.
“A2 farmers have come of age and they should be raising their own resources by now to fund their agricultural activities,” he said.
“In applying for land all farmers on A2 land were requested to produce collateral which showed they would be able to raise funding on their own.”
Government will, however, assist 300 000 vulnerable households through input schemes at a cost of US$28 million.
Priority, Chinamasa revealed, would be given to outstanding payment of farmers who delivered grain during the 2014/2015 marketing season.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president, Wonder Chabikwa welcomed the move by Government to prioritise outstanding payments.
“It is not surprising that there would be no funding for A2 farmers and there should be no uproar over that as this has been the case over the past seasons,” he said.
“Once the farmers get what they are owed by Government they will be able to fund their own operations.”
Chabikwa said the alternative methods of funding that have been adopted by the farmers in the past have disadvantaged them.
“For instance some farmers producing soya beans, tobacco and cotton on a contract basis have not been empowered as they have been left in debt,” he said.
Chabikwa advised farmers to seek advice before signing any contracts.
“The other thing is that farmers at times do not read the fine print on these contracts so it is important that before signing any contracts they seek a second opinion,” he said.
“Farmers unions and even the Ministry of Agriculture are there to assist farmers when they decide to venture into contract farming.”
“There is need for the review of the various contracts as it is the farmer who loses more and the contractor reaps all the profit.”
Another alternative source of funding for the farmers are financial institutions but producers are crying foul over the high interest rates.
“Most banks are charging between 12 and 25 percent interest and this is not viable for the farmer hence most farmers do not use that option as they know at the end of the day they will lose out,” said Chabikwa.
As the cropping season approaches it is hoped that the issue of funding will be addressed so that come the rains the farmers should be able to operate at full capacity.