The ManicaPost
Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) has begun the registration of companies and individuals intending to buy or grow horticultural products during the forthcoming year which commence from November to October 2017.
AMA said all stakeholders that intend to deal with horticulture products are to register in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Authority Act CAT 18:24 and Statutory Instrument 147 of 2012.
“All companies and Individuals planning to buy or grow horticulture for the year which begins from 1st November to 31 October 2017 are required to register with AMA before dealing with such products,” said AMA.
AMA also said growers of horticultural crops should register with the Authority so that they can be added on to the growers’ data base.
“The categories of institutions and individuals that are required to register are Commercial Traders, Wholesalers and Small to Medium Scale Traders (handling below 100t/month).”
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president, Mr Wonder Mubikwa, urged horticultural farmers to register as this will also help AMA know the number of farmers in the industry.
“The intention of registering into the data base is to help AMA know at any given time who produces what type of horticulture product and how can they be assisted,” he said.
Mr Mubikwa added that most farmers in irrigated land were producing horticultural products for their fast cash flow.
“Horticultural farmers are growing the products to help generate fast income to support other crops, however with the imminent threats of floods the horticultural products may be affected.”
Zimbabwe last year realised about $61, 42 million from exports of horticultural products to the European Union, contributing 0,10 percent of the regional bloc’s overall horticultural imports market, whilst recording an increase from $49 million recorded in 2014, according to figures availed by ZimTrade. – BH24.
