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By Marlvin Ngiza
Retailers have concurred with the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) suggestions of dealing with instability in the local retail environment through strengthening local raw materials supply chains.
Recently, Zimbabwe Farmers Union Secretary-General, Mr.Paul Zakariya told this publication that local farmers should be capacitated in order for them to produce enough for the country.
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu, attributed current price hikes to imported inflation whereby, for instance, Zimbabwean millers are importing 70 percent of wheat whose prices would have been already hiked in the global market.
Dr. Mutashu emphasized the need for the government to pay a reasonable price for local producers to encourage local production.
“The millers indicate that they are currently importing 70% of the wheat they are milling for bakers. It’s a significant percentage as global wheat prices, just like crude oil, have shot up. Global supply disruptions due to war and the sanctions on Russia by the West and European block have caused tremors in the currency for many countries and inflation surged.
“The instability of prices is caused by imported and local inflation driven by the parallel market exchange rate and increased appetite for US$. There is a need to pay the right price for local wheat,” said Mutashu.
Moreover, Mutashu suggested increased investment in the country’s primary sector of production.
“There is also a need to continue providing technical and financial support to farmers. Price of fertilizer, which largely comes from Russia, has shot up, and yet supply is constrained hence there is need to double up local production support of fertilizer and its value chain,” added Mutashu.
Elsewhere in the region, South Africa recently introduced inflation mitigatory measures which will see small-scale farmers being supported and state land being freed to scale up agricultural operations in the country.
