Black and white farmer groups unite

This article was written by Our reporter on 30 January, at 01 : 44 AM

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The Zimbabwe Farmers Union has joined hands with the Commercial Farmers Union in the promotion of commodity associations that encourage crop specialisation in farming activities.

The alliance between the two farmers’ organisations to create the Zimbabwe Farmers Alliance Trust is expected to largely benefit small-scale farmers who will be able to tap the expertise of former commercial farmers on crop specialisation.

Zimbabwe Farmers Union Second Vice President, Berean Mukwende, said specialisation has for long been regarded as a key tool in boosting production and maximising profits earnings from the farming enterprise and this can be enhanced through sharing experiences from other farmers.

“The alliance we have formed is on the promotion of commodity associations. We are trying to tap experiences and advice from former commercial farmers.

“Commodity associations are the backbone of agricultural production. While in unions we discuss farming as a whole, it is important to specialise and farmers would be grouped so that they focus on commodities rather than learning under one roof. Through specialisation economies of scale are achieved,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Farmers Alliance Trust will have a bias on promoting commodity associations focusing on cash crops as tobacco, cotton oil seeds, sugar cane and horticulture as livestock, grains, tea and coffee.