By Pretty Chavango
Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – While a Zimbabwean civil servant earns around $500 monthly which they feel cannot cover food, electricity, water, school fees and transport bills, in an economy where one hardly has surplus to save you will find out that there are others who not only find it hard to save but cannot even meet day to day expenses and are swallowed in debt.
While the civil servant cries foul over $500 a month the local small holder cotton grower is forced on a meager +/-$400 the whole year!
Cotton farmers sparked outrage at low crop prices saying it was better to either diversify or quit farming altogether. At a farmer’s stake holders workshop hosted by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) – a social and economic justice coalition whose vision is sustainable socio-economic justice in Zimbabwe through a vibrant people based movement.
Farmers spoke out on producer prices not matching breakdown costs, a lot of money is used up in inputs and outputs, at the end of the day it is not enough to cover costs.
Mr Naison Mutsananguro a small scale farmer from Chipinge Checheche spoke on the various challenges they face which include being barred from holding based meeting in their communities as they are not registered, he also highlighted how the current $0,40c pegged price for cotton is peanuts as it doesn’t even cover cost talk less profit.
“Cotton farming is making us poor, we cannot send our children to school or even access health facilities ‘’, he said.
Mutsananguro highlighted how farmers are not engaged in the pegging of prices and are unaware how the international market operates as the price is just announced to them by the cotton buyer with no room for negotiation, he urged Government to follow up on companies through intermediary boards like AMA and monitor the pricing of cotton.
It was also noted that free farming is yet to be recognized as free farmers are asked to pay a fee in order to sell their produce, being told to practice contract farming which according to farmers doesn’t benefit them as the payment earned is returned to companies to pay borrowed inputs borrowed at the beginning of the farming season.
Farmers feel they are being cheated out of their monies as they are given expired chemicals which don’t kill pests.
Contract farmers also complained that the Cotton Growers Association CGA give out inputs at a very late stage sometimes mid-December yet the farming season starts early October causing a hurried late crop and signing of contracts without analyzing of clauses which might later be of disadvantage to them .
“Some companies only come with a bottle of chemical or a sack of seed to use on a hectare of land and never come back with more inputs only to resurface at the selling season to demand farmers sell them their cotton’’.
Some farmers are holding on to their cotton hoping for at least $0,74c which they say will not bring profit but return inputs , farmers are losing their properties due to debts owed cotton buyers in poor seasons .
Ishmael Gwekwerere of Gokwe south and is also chairperson of Small scale cotton Growers Association commended ZIMCODD for helping farmers engage with AMA and its operations.
He spoke on how their association works to help other farmers improve, ‘’ We groom contract farmers to free farming, it will however take time for more farmers to engage in free farming because of poverty as they are dependent for inputs’’ he said.
Female farmers have their own unique challenges apart from the common ones, Eliza Mhlanga Kachera from Chipinge spoke on how she had hoped farming would bring independence so the rural women will not depend on their husbands for anything but due to poor cotton prices, this has become impossible.
It was also highlighted that selling points are too far and female farmers are at risk of theft or rape on their way home.
Farmers expressed disgruntlement on how their cotton is not even being graded but all sold at the same price regardless of quality , farmers urged for local ginners and factories as 80% of cotton is exported, this does not benefit local people .
AMA representative Mrs Zitsanza spoke on how they are advocating for a transparent level playing field between buyer and seller to ensure fairness and urged farmers to report misconduct, the free farmer she said is covered in the statutory instrument and are free to sell to the registered buyers in their area.
Investigations on fake chemicals she said were underway and as cotton industry is supported by the government, ’around 200 000 small holder farmers are employed in the cotton industry meaning they also employ other in development’’ Zitsanza said.
ZIMCODD Director Ms Patricia Kasiamuru urged engagement with policy bearers for sustainable implementation of development schemes.
The stakeholders meeting was aimed at reinforcing the capacity of small scale farmers and producers to gain knowledge and training on tax justice.
Government and global economic policies and how these directly impact upon livelihoods.
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