CFU boss breaks down over food

Tim Henwood, outgoing president of the Commercial Farmers’ Union (CFU), has attributed the country’s recent, drastic drop in food production primarily to the invasion of commercial farms by war veterans and ZANU-PF supporters. The invasions and the subsequent decline in production has left Zimbabwe facing an impending food crisis. The government has already announced it needs to import more than 600,000 mt of maize despite earlier denials of an impending food shortage.

Speaking at the CFU’s 58th annual congress, Henwood said: “Farming in Zimbabwe will never be the same again, and farmers have to adapt to change, but I have every confidence they will, for we have all adapted in the past and will take the changes in our stride. The present chaos cannot last indefinitely, and it will end for it’s simply not sustainable,” Henwood was quoted saying. He said maize production was set to drop to 384 000 mt, less than half of the previous crop, and could further decline next season if the government did not reconsider a decree stipulating that the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) be the sole purchaser of maize.

According to the report, Henwood said cotton production had declined from an estimated 400,000 to 282,000 mt. The coffee industry had also been severely affected by Cyclone Eline and the current low world prices, he said.
Tobacco production was down by about 15 to 20 percent and may be further reduced in the coming season if stability and confidence did not return. Henwood was quoted saying that the wheat crop yield was also expected to be lower than its potential of more than 325,000 mt. He also said that the dairy and meat industries had suffered.

“The ability of our nation to create wealth for all our people is indisputable. We have all the ingredients for success and yet, after several seasons of good rains, when our larders should be full, because of the current political climate, we face food shortages and reduced production. Farmers in all sectors face the toughest economic challenges they have ever faced, and confidence in the commercial sector is at an all-time low. Downstream, upstream and service industries face collapse unless fundamental and drastic measures are taken,” Henwood was quoted saying. The CFU was meeting on Thursday to elect a new leadership.