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Zimbabwe: Horticultural prices fall 30 percent
The current world economic recession has forced prices of horticultural products to fall by 30 percent on the international market, creating serious viability problems for the local industry, the Horticultural Promotion Council has said.
In an interview yesterday HPC chief executive Mr Basilio Sandamu said viability in the industry was currently in the negative and that many farmers were finding it difficult to remain afloat.
"The charges for documentation levied on farmers for their produce meant for export especially in the procurement of phytosanitary certificates are simply prohibitive.
"A farmer has to pay US$10 for a consignment of any quantity going to any destination in the Sadc region while the same amount is also required for the procurement of the EU R1 forms for produce going to European markets," said Mr Sandamu.
He added that considering that most products were exported fresh and on a daily basis such costs were astronomical and therefore, bearing hard on the farmers.
"This year for instance, had the worst flower sales for Valentine Day and Easter celebrations not only on the domestic but world markets. This has as well, seen producers struggling to remain in business," said Mr Sandamu.
Mr Sandamu, however, said the council was currently actively engaging financial institutions to secure credit lines for farmers.
Additionally, he urged local buyers to contract more growers and help them secure expert advice on production of the various crops that are on demand on both the regional and international markets.
"Farmers must also produce for particular markets to utilise resources and generate revenue to sustain their operations.
"We are also actively going out every year to explore new markets and since horticultural exports started in the eighties, we have managed to maintain a hold on markets in Europe the UK, France and Germany to name a few.
"Every year Zimbabwe exports fruits to countries like Russia, South Africa, Hong Kong and the Middle East but this time around the markets had been very depressed," Mr Sandamu said.
HPC publishes production manuals for tropical fruits and vegetables yearly but failed to do so last year due to lack of funding against a background of declining demand orchestrated by the global economic downturn, he said.
"Of course, the setback is temporal and three years from now we could be talking of something different.
"We have the necessary and basic resources in the form of land, water and the right climate and this complimented by lots of openings in the markets will act to our advantage," Mr Sandamu concluded.
Source: allafrica.com
The current world economic recession has forced prices of horticultural products to fall by 30 percent on the international market, creating serious viability problems for the local industry, the Horticultural Promotion Council has said.
In an interview yesterday HPC chief executive Mr Basilio Sandamu said viability in the industry was currently in the negative and that many farmers were finding it difficult to remain afloat.
"The charges for documentation levied on farmers for their produce meant for export especially in the procurement of phytosanitary certificates are simply prohibitive.
"A farmer has to pay US$10 for a consignment of any quantity going to any destination in the Sadc region while the same amount is also required for the procurement of the EU R1 forms for produce going to European markets," said Mr Sandamu.
He added that considering that most products were exported fresh and on a daily basis such costs were astronomical and therefore, bearing hard on the farmers.
"This year for instance, had the worst flower sales for Valentine Day and Easter celebrations not only on the domestic but world markets. This has as well, seen producers struggling to remain in business," said Mr Sandamu.
Mr Sandamu, however, said the council was currently actively engaging financial institutions to secure credit lines for farmers.
Additionally, he urged local buyers to contract more growers and help them secure expert advice on production of the various crops that are on demand on both the regional and international markets.
"Farmers must also produce for particular markets to utilise resources and generate revenue to sustain their operations.
"We are also actively going out every year to explore new markets and since horticultural exports started in the eighties, we have managed to maintain a hold on markets in Europe the UK, France and Germany to name a few.
"Every year Zimbabwe exports fruits to countries like Russia, South Africa, Hong Kong and the Middle East but this time around the markets had been very depressed," Mr Sandamu said.
HPC publishes production manuals for tropical fruits and vegetables yearly but failed to do so last year due to lack of funding against a background of declining demand orchestrated by the global economic downturn, he said.
"Of course, the setback is temporal and three years from now we could be talking of something different.
"We have the necessary and basic resources in the form of land, water and the right climate and this complimented by lots of openings in the markets will act to our advantage," Mr Sandamu concluded.
Source: allafrica.com
Publication date: 5/20/2009
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