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RBZ avails $12m to fertiliser firms

27 Jan, 2017 - 00:01 0 Views
RBZ avails $12m to fertiliser firms

The ManicaPost

Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter—

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has availed $12 million to fertiliser firms to enable them to meet initial targets and an addition 10 000 metric tonnes requested under Command Agriculture – which has seen the immediate release of stocks that were bonded in their warehouses under collateral management agreement to salvage the crop and spare the season from going to waste.

Fertiliser firms could not meet demand due to lack of foreign currency to import raw materials, while some had fertiliser stocks in their warehouses, could not release it before paying their external suppliers as the inputs are held under collateral management agreement.

For instance, the Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company has delivered only 20 000 tonnes of Compound D, which is half of the target, while Omnia Fertiliser which was contracted to provide 6 800 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate has since supplied 5 000 tonnes.

RBZ has availed $12 million to enable the firms to meet initial targets and an addition 10 000 metric tonnes.

The shortage of top-dressing has sparked outcry from farmers who felt the season – dubbed as the mother of all agricultural seasons – was on the verge of going to waste if no remedial action was taken to address the shortage.

A sub-national Joint Operation Command (JOC), led by Senior Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura, which toured Makoni District to evaluate the condition of the crop under Command Agriculture, heard that top-dressing shortage might compromise potential yield if not addressed now.

The taskforce toured Gijima Farm, where Mr Lovemore Msindo planted 200 hectares, Mhandara Farm, where Mr Dakarai Mapuranga has 100ha, Kelvin Farm where Mr Booker Chinamasa planted 80ha and Mr Ernest Matienga’s farm where 80ha have been planted under Command Agriculture.

The crop condition ranges from fair to very good as some farmers planted without basal fertiliser and weed pressure is high due to herbicides shortages.

Statistics released by Agritex head for Manicaland, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa, had buttressed fears by farmers as only 3 334 tonnes of basal fertilisers were received and distributed at a rate of 400kg per hectare, covering 8 335ha.

A total of 978.1t of Ammonium Nitrate were received, enough only for 3 260.33ha at a distribution rate of 300kg per hectare.

An additional 274t of urea were received and covered 913.3ha, putting the total area covered by top dressing to date at 3 440ha, out of the planted 12 119 hectares under Command Agriculture.

Private farmers were also struggling to get fertiliser, resulting in some fetching it on the black market where it is sold at exorbitant prices.

RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya, told The Manica Post yesterday (Thursday) that the situation had been rectified with the secure of an additional 10 000 metric tonnes requested under Command Agriculture.

“We have made arrangements for the immediate release of 10 000 metric tonnes of top-dressing fertiliser under Command Agriculture, being top-up to cover for the excessive leaching of nutrients as a result of incessant rains.

“Fertiliser was always there in bonded warehouses, but could only be released upon allocation of foreign currency, which we have done to expedite the release with a view to salvage the crop,” said Dr Mangudya.

 

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