Story by Tendai Munengwa
WHEAT farmers have been temporarily exempted from paying water bills until they harvest and receive payment for their crop.
This comes as farmers from across the country, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and government officials converged for an interactive session in Harare to discuss how best the country can achieve wheat-based food security following the El-Nino Nino induced drought.
“We delivered wheat last year in October and some of the farmers are yet to be paid. We can do it alone if we are paid on time. The issue of water availability must be interrogated so that we make sure farmers have adequate reserves,” said a farmer representative, Mrs Monica Chinamasa.
“We are happy with the turn around by ZINWA to iron out water issues and government plans to conclude wheat payment. We hope next time we get paid on time,” said Commercial Farmers Union vice president, Daniel Burger.
The exciting news from the interactive session was the temporary exemption of farmers from paying water bills for wheat irrigation until they deliver and get paid for the cereal crop.
“The good news for the wheat farmers is that they will be exempted from paying bills until they deliver their wheat and get paid by the Grain Marketing Board,” noted Nyabira Farmers chairperson, Andy Mhlanga.
“The issue of outstanding payment of US$15 million for wheat will be processed this week,” Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary, Obert Jiri revealed during the interactive session.
Latest statistics show that over 32 000 hectares have been planted so far and farmers are encouraged to take advantage of the government interventions to round up their planting before end of this month deadline.
