Farmers at Umguza Irrigation Lots in Matabeleland North Province have scaled down farming operations due to rising inputs and production costs.
This was revealed by Umguza Irrigation Lots chairperson Antony Khepha Dube. He said:
Farming is no longer viable due to the high cost of inputs such as fertilisers, which now cost over $400 for a bag of 50 kgs.
Electricity also went up by 300 per cent, the same as water. Most farmers are reeling under huge debts owed to utilities.
Zinwa (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) has already sent warning letters to most of the farmers threatening to cut water supplies due to outstanding debts.
Most of the farmers at the Umguza Irrigation Lots are beneficiaries of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme.
They sell their produce to Bulawayo and several other districts in Matabeleland North Province.