Fertiliser demand up/ Zim herald
By Pascalia Munyewende
DEMAND for fertiliser has gone up by 40 percent owing to the increased number of commercial farmers this year.
One of the major manufacturers, Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries Limited, (Zimphos) said it was failing to meet demand.
Zimphos general manager Mr Misheck Kachere said the increased demand was due to the land reform implemented by the Government.
"The agrarian reform backed by the Government’s inputs support programme has generated an unprecedented demand for fertiliser which has compelled Zimphos to increase production to cater for the market," said Mr Kachere.
The fertiliser industry as a whole has operated below capacity this year because of the foreign currency crisis.
Mr Kachere said the country needs one million tonnes of fertiliser a year but only 420 000 tonnes had so far been produced this year.
He urged the Government to review the controlled price of fertiliser in line with the increased costs of production.
Mr Kachere said plans were underway to upgrade his company’s manufacturing facilities to meet the increased demand.
To avert shortages of fertiliser, the company is supplementing rail deliveries by the National Railways of Zimbabwe by using road transport.
Fifty percent of the company’s phosphate rock requirements are being moved by road from Buhera to its factory in Harare, Mr Kachere told guests at the company’s long service awards ceremony in Harare last week.
The secretary for Environment and Tourism, Ambassador Lucas Tavaya, who officiated at the ceremony, said it was Zimphos’ duty to make sure that fertiliser supplies reached all farmers in good time.
He said Zimphos formed the base of agriculture hence was part of the struggle.
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"Ivinicus factus sum veritabem diceus." ( I have become an enemy for speaking the truth ) St Paul!
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Mitayo Potosi
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