Zimbabwe: Energy Shortages Irk Mechanisation Minister

Source from:  All Africa 12/09/2010

AGRICULTURE, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made has warned that unreliable power supplies this year threaten to derail significant gains registered in tobacco farming. Speaking during a tour of Chidziva Estates owned by businessman and farmer Mr Mike Chidziva recently, Minister Made said the unreliable power supplies dented the drive by farmers to engage in serious tobacco farming. Mr Chidziva is using a generator to provide electricity to cure his tobacco. He has 42 ha of tobacco with a capacity to yield 3 800kilogrammes per hectare. Reaping has already started. "The issue of power is very critical. The farmer's profits are already being eroded by the high costs of diesel," he said. The tobacco has to be cured for seven days. As of yesterday, Mr Chidziva had gone for three straight days without electricity implying that his generator had been operating for the period. "This is where the loss begins to creep in. We should urgently resolve the power issue," he said. Minister Made said it was sad that after a farmer had enjoyed a good field yield, he lost his crop at the curing stage. Minister Made, however, commended the excellent tobacco crop. He invited new farmers to visit Mr Chidziva's farm and learn the best methods of growing tobacco. He said any serious farmer should have the drive and passion to learn from the best farmers. "New farmers must come and have a look at the fore-bearers of indigenisation that own and utilise the land effectively," he said. Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo who is also the Zanu-PF secretary for lands and resettlement in the Politburo, said blacks should never be fooled that farming was a loss-making business. "Our farmers should never be scared of growing tobacco," he said. Enditem