Back to Index

Justice For Agriculture - JAG Zimbabwe
August 03 , 2002

Back to Contents, Previous Page

2002 commercial crop planting projections were

Wheat
24 692 hectares are already in the ground and will be harvested Sept/Oct. Its value in terms of dollars and cents is Z$6 billion. But its value as a scarce food commodity is priceless in the current stock out position. Cereal production at 670,000 tonnes has dropped 57 per cent compared to last year and 67 per cent compared to 1999-2000. Cereal import needs, including maize, is up to 1.8 billion tonnes.

Tobacco
Over 170 million kgs of tobacco is produced and awaiting grading on the farms. US$35,5 million worth of tobacco has already been sold and the Section 8 Orders have cast doubt over the fate of the US$330 million crop still in grading sheds on the farms.

Maize (2002/2003)
41 067 hectares will translate to 226 000 tonnes: three months supply for the staple diet of Zimbabwe. The value of the crop is Z$9,4 billion. Last season 50% of the maize crop was stolen with no police action taken against the perpetrators. This severely eroded confidence for the commercial sector and compromised viability. Maize production at 480,000 tonnes is estimated to be 67 per cent less than last year and 77 per cent less than 1999-2000.

It is impossible at this time to confirm how these estimates will translate into yields as some of the farmers who expressed intentions may yet come under Section 8 notification and will have to leave before the planting/harvesting. All listed farms can be acquired without a hearing and
the crop seized after only 45 days. The few farms which have not been listed have only 75 days protection ensuring that the current legal framework is inimical to any land preparations or crop planting. It is difficult for any farmer to plan ahead until the past promises to de-list farms are honoured and it is clear that allocations have been administered fairly.

Interesting financial statistics

TOTAL ZIMBABWE GDP = $ 488 billion
Total value of commercial farm production = $ 69 billion (18% GDP)
If 90% of farmers stop farming: LOSS = $ 62 billion (12.70% GDP)

TOTAL EXPORTS (2001) estimate = US $ 2 billion
Commercial Agric. contribution to exports = US$765 million (38% of total)
If 90% of farmers stop farming: LOSS = US$689 million (34% of total)

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP