Government suspends importation of agricultural produce

The government has suspended the important of agricultural produce with immediate effect much to the relief of local farmers who say the cheap imports were squeezing them out of business.

Consumers will have to wait and see as local products are general more expensive than imported ones ostensibly because of higher local production costs.

“The country is importing eggs, vegetables, fruits and poultry products leaving us with nowhere to sell our produce. Some countries are dumping their produce on us and we end up losing our markets,” Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union president Wonder Chabikwa was quoted by The Herald as saying.

“As farmers, our government should give us protection on food we produce here. Some countries subsidise their farmers and gives them export incentives which make their produce cheaper compared to local produce.”

Though it is still unclear how the country has fared this year, with some people disputing the claim by Agriculture Minister Joseph Made that the country had a bumper harvest, the move could have come at the right time as the country is experiencing deflation.

The low demand could force farmers to come up with reasonable prices as there will be no buyers.

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