CHINHOYI – The Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) has established commodity associations in order to curb instances of financial prejudice of its members, particularly regarding contract farming and marketing of produce.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
ZFU Mashonaland West provincial manager Daniel Mungazi told NewsDay the organisation had formed four commodity units, namely cotton, grain, livestock and horticulture, that would benefit its over 20 000 members countrywide.
There had been widespread reports of farmers being fleeced by contracting firms and middlemen during the marketing seasons of various produce, Mungazi said.
“The benefits of being part of the associations would, among others, be that ZFU would assist farmers to examine contractual agreements regarding contract farming so that there will not be any short-changing of farmers.
“Their mandate would also include lobbying and advocating for production and marketing policies, assist farmers access technical information and training and to get discounts on farming inputs from suppliers,” said Mungazi, adding ZFU would soon put in place tobacco and oil seed commodity units.
Mungazi also said ZFU had signed a memorandum of understanding with seed houses and fertiliser suppliers where its members would access inputs loans for the 2013/2014 cropping season.
