The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s governor says the poor way in which new farmers are using land is ”criminal”, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Bemoaning falling agricultural yields in Zimbabwe, Gideon Gono said 1 000 commercial farmers have indicated they will produce a ”pathetic” 60 000 tonnes of maize in total in the coming season.
”It is criminal, the manner in which we are using land. We only need to understand that our neighbour South Africa can achieve five to eight tonnes of maize per hectare or even 15 tonnes a hectare using irrigation, and here we are priding ourselves at 0,5 tonnes per hectare,” Gono told a parliamentary committee.
Zimbabwe needs at least 1,8-million tonnes of maize a year to feed its population. This year, President Robert Mugabe’s government has already indicated that it will have to import that amount of grain.
Press reports last week said the Southern African country — once known as the breadbasket of the region — is heading for another disastrous farming season.
Agricultural production has plummeted here since the launch of the land-reform programme in 2000. Farms have been seized from more than 4 000 white commercial farmers and given to new black farmers.
The Reserve Bank governor said some new commercial farmers have applied for loans at favourable rates, indicating that the money will be used for farming ventures, ”but ended up buying items like luxury Pajero vehicles that had nothing to do with agriculture”, the Herald said.
”Those who want luxury cars should buy them at market rates and not … abuse public funds,” Gono said.
Some government officials in Zimbabwe appear to be becoming increasingly exasperated with the country’s repeated crop failures.
Vice-President Joyce Mujuru last week said Zimbabwe’s poverty is ”man-made”.
But Agriculture Minister Joseph Made insisted this week that the country is heading for a ”bumper harvest”. — Sapa-DPA